England Are Not Favourites Coming Into The Champions Trophy, Says Eoin Morgan

May 9, 2017 at 11:55 AM

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England Are Not Favourites Coming Into The Champions Trophy, Says Eoin Morgan

England skipper Eoin Morgan is currently left to deal with selection conundrums ahead of the three-match ODI series against South Africa which is set to begin at home in two weeks time.

The impressive return of Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root’s polished bowling skills have made him rethink his selection ideas.

Jonny Bairstow smashed a brutal 72* in just 44 balls in the 2nd ODI against Ireland in Lord’s on Sunday (May 7) but may still not find a place in the team against South Africa, as Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Chris Woakes would return to national duty after fulfilling the Indian Premier League (IPL) commitments.

Bairstow’s place can only be guaranteed if England cut out the only spin bowling all-rounder in the team – Moeen Ali. The off-spinning all-rounder may suffer due to Joe Root’s improved all-around skills, as the skipper feels that England might play Root as the sixth bowler instead of Ali. If this occurs Bairstow can be assured of the No.7 place in the order.

“It is looking like that at the moment, which is unfortunate for him,” Morgan admitted on Monday (May 8). “With Ben [Stokes] coming back into the side it allows us to play another all-rounder in the side with Mo at seven.

“To justify an-out-and-out batter at seven, I’m not sure you can. The number of balls faced at seven, the spread on them is very small so over the course of say 10 games, if he faces 40 balls in one game is he going to face 40 balls that will win you a game, or could your all-rounder go in, do the same job, and then contribute more with the ball?”

“You can’t guarantee that and how often would he be used? We’ve a really strong batting line-up, particularly when Stokes, Woakes and Buttler come back in. To have Woakes coming in at eight, it is hard to justify.”

Sam Billings, who played for the Delhi Daredevils side in the IPL, came home completely motivated of his England’s chances in the Champions Trophy. The reason being the discussions he had with his fellow DD players which made him believe that other teams were “petrified” of England’s form in white-ball cricket.

Morgan, however, felt his team was far behind from being called as the favourites.

“I think Sam is rediscovering the word ‘petrified’,” Morgan said. “That is not true at all. We are not favourites coming into the tournament. Experience-wise, we are further behind sides like India, Australia, who always go in as favourites for a big tournament. I think we need to earn the tag ‘favourites’ by beating top sides more often – we have not done it enough.”

There is no time to relax for Eoin Morgan. He will head back to India to play for the Kings XI Punjab while skipping his county duties with Middlesex in the Royal London One-Day Cup.

Following the trip to India, he is expected to join England to take part in the pre-Champions Trophy training camp in Spain on May 15.

“This year is probably the hardest year to justify going back to India and do what I’ve always done, but I’ve stuck to my guns and I still maintain that I always come back from India either striking the ball better or I’m more confident as a player and I don’t know why” Morgan said.

“Whether I’m playing or not or working on my game or not it helps. It could be the high intensity of everything or the outside chaos and pressure on you, but when I come back I just feel like I’m good to go.

“I’m the opposite to Joe Root. He needs to hit balls and play a lot of games, or as much as he can in the lead up to a series, but for me, it is more of a feeling and that is why I’m flying back out.

“If I had played more out there before coming back for the Ireland games then I probably wouldn’t be flying back now. I’d feel more comfortable about staying and playing.”

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