Morgan is just relieved to win ugly
game I mentioned how going into the World Cup and trying to replicate tournament-based cricket is getting wins when you don’t have a great day.
“Finding ways to get over the line is important, and today we did a really good job of it.
“With the bat we were below par but managed to get over the line. It’s a big positive to take because it’s a characteristic that we’re going to need.” Morgan said the contribution of Moeen Ali with both bat and ball and David Willey, who got them past Australia’s total with his best score for England, were plusses to take as the series moves to Cardiff this Saturday.
“It’s David’s career-best and that is very encouraging. He’ll take a lot of confidence from today with the bat. With the ball, when he swings it he’s a big threat,” he said.
Australia coach Justin Langer used an interview with Sky Sports to lay into the previous Australia regime, admitting they had behaved like “spoilt brats” for more than a year. The Australia coach, who has said his side will continue to sledge opponents, did not pull his punches following the ball-tampering scandal that rocked the Test side in South Africa in March.
“There were too many whispers in the last 12 months or so about the abuse on the field, or dare I say, the side playing like spoilt brats,” he said. “When that moment [the ball-tampering] happened, as a past player and lover of Australia, I nearly died.
“And when I saw it was Cameron Bancroft my heart nearly came out of my chest, I couldn’t believe it.”