TAKE YOUR SHOT
Morgan backs his golden oldies
EOIN MORGAN has told his white-ball stand-ins they are not in to keep seats warm for absent World Cup winners and insists they can still have a big future with England.
The World Cup-winning skipper defended the selection of 34-year-old veteran batsman Joe Denly as well as James Vince and David Willey, who may have thought their time had gone.
And while he admitted younger talent had missed out on their account for the threematch ODI series against Ireland, he has assured his golden oldies they can show they still have a part to play in futureWorld Cups.
Willey, 30, and Denly were ditched from the World Cup squad on the eve of the tournament last summer while Vince, 29, stood in for the injured Jason Roy in three group games.
But all three remain part of future planning and Morgan has urged them to grab their chance to shine against Ireland today at the Ageas Bowl.
“A lot of the perception is that they’ve almost had their chance and their time has gone, whereas we see it as going into the next World Cup and needing experienced guys making good decisions under pressure,” said Morgan.
“That’s exactly what we’re after – and experience lends itself to that. We’ll continue to give opportunities [to others] but it’s those guys we feel might have an impact in selection on the next two T20 World Cups or the next 50-overWorld Cup.”
The series against Ireland might have been the perfect platform to see how exciting Sussex opener Phil Salt handled the step up from the Lions. Certainly, his unbeaten 100 against Ireland in the warm-up on Sunday increased the clamour for him to be given a go ahead of Denly, who will be 37 by the time the World Cup defence comes round in 2023.
Yet Morgan and the selectors remain fans of the popular veteran, who was England’s best batsman in the most recent ODI series in South Africa in early February.
“Joe played really well in South Africa,” Morgan said. “It was a long time ago but he’s still a highquality player and creating opportunities for him is important to us.
“With Joe, age is not something we talk about – he’s fit and agile as anybody.
“I think the opportunities that he and James
Vince get will determine how long they might go or what direction we go in. But selection was difficult.”
Even without the likes of Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer, Joe Root and Ben Stokes in the England line-up, Ireland captain Andy Balbirnie knows it will be tough.
“There are people with points to prove in this England side and that makes them dangerous,” he said.