MORGAN’S ABSENCE LEAVES SOUR TASTE

ENGLAND could hand debuts to as many as six of their next generation when they travel to Ireland for a one-day international next week, but they stopped short yesterday of launching a completely new limited-overs era. The selection of Tim Bresnan stood out in an otherwise youthful side for the game just outside Dublin on May 8, three days after the end of the third Test here. Bresnan has started the season well for Yorkshire after altering his action but, at 30, his inclusion is hardly a forward-thinking decision. Otherwise England have reacted to the World Cup humiliation and the unavailability of those in Barbados by introducing uncapped talents in Sam Billings, James Vince, Jason Roy, Zafar Ansari, David Willey and Lewis Gregory. There is also a place for back-up Test keeper Jonny Bairstow, who will leave here as soon as the third Test starts with as many as three others, probably Adil Rashid, Mark Wood and Liam Plunkett. James Taylor captains England in the absence of Eoin Morgan, whose long-term future as one-day captain should be brought into question. England gave permission for anyone signed by the Indian Premier League to miss this game but Morgan had by then replaced Alastair Cook for the World Cup and should have sought his release once he had been drafted by Hyderabad Sunrisers. He could have travelled from India to Ireland and back in five days. If his IPL franchise did not agree to his temporary absence then Morgan (right), who rarely plays in the IPL, should have put country first. The indications are that Morgan, who had a dismal World Cup, will return to lead England in their one-day series against New Zealand in June but England should think hard before restricting Taylor’s leadership to one game. ‘The circumstances, with Morgs at the IPL and other lads in the West Indies, mean that this is slightly different,’ said Taylor, who has captained England Lions and Nottinghamshire’s one-day team. However, coach Peter Moores and his assistant Paul

Farbrace will travel to Dublin from Barbados at the end of the Test to arrive in time for the game, emphasising how important they feel it is. It is a great shame that the England captain does not feel the same. The match should provide a stern test for exciting talents such as Kent batsman-keeper Billings, Surrey’s hard-hitting Roy and Hampshire’s classy batsman Vince, all capable of playing the dynamic one-day cricket that has been lacking from England.