Jos is boss as Morgan misses out
England suffered a big blow yesterday to their hopes of ending their Indian tour on a high when captain Eoin Morgan was ruled out of the last two one-day internationals.
Morgan went through a fielding drill in Pune after needing four stitches in the webbing between his right thumb and index finger during England’s opening defeat.
But he quickly ruled himself out of the matches today and on Sunday that represent England’s last chance of gaining anything tangible from a tour in which they have already lost their Test and Twenty20 series.
Jos Buttler will captain England in Morgan’s absence, while lancashire’s 27-year- old batting all- rounder liam livingstone will make his one-day international debut.
‘ I had the hand re- dressed before training but I quickly found myself protecting the injury and getting into the wrong positions to catch the ball,’ said Morgan. ‘There’s nowhere to hide in international cricket, so it did not require any great thought to rule myself out.
‘It was a freak injury and it’s extremely frustrating, but there’s nothing I can do about it. I have every confidence in Jos and the squad coping without me.’
Sam Billings was also ruled out of today’s game with the shoulder injury he suffered during the first 50-over international and dawid Malan, one of three reserves, stepped up to the squad. India lead 1- 0 with the final two matches to play.
Billings, who missed England’s World Cup triumph in 2019 with a dislocated shoulder, faces a battle to be fit for Sunday’s final game after spraining his collarbone diving in the Pune outfield during the opening 66-run defeat.
At least the latest blows, which add to the unavailability of the injured Jofra archer and the rested Joe Root and Chris Woakes, provide an opportunity for the exciting livingstone.
The Cumbrian struggled in two Twenty20 internationals against South africa four years ago but they came when he was out of form.
And livingstone believes he is a more mature player and person now he has been given this second chance.
‘I am absolutely ready,’ said livingstone, who has also been working on his leg and off- spin bowling. ‘The first time around was very different to now and I’ve been waiting for this for some time. This is not just any old team to get into — they are world champions.’
England must now rejig their line-up, with livingstone more suited to the middle order in 50- over cricket. That means he could fit in at six or even seven, with Malan coming in at three and Ben Stokes being moved down again after just one match in Root’s position.
Morgan promised opportunities to all of his squad players in this series but Reece Topley and Matt Parkinson may have to wait again now, unless England spring a surprise and play an extra bowler instead of Malan.
England, who were beaten 3-1 in the five-Test series and 3-2 in the T20s, will be replaced by India at the top of the world 50- over rankings if they lose this one 3-0.