Morgan happy that squad is improving
EOIN Morgan is delighted to be able to select some of England’s World Cup winners again but feels Australia are favourites to win the white- ball series which starts on Friday.
The first of three Twenty20 internationals takes place at the Ageas Bowl before both squads head to Emirates Old Trafford later this month for three one- dayers.
While England have welcomed back Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer and Mark Wood after they were part of the bio- secure Test bubble, Jason Roy and Ben Stokes remain absent.
It means Australia, who are number one in the T20 rankings, go into the series with the edge after bringing a group of 21 players for both formats.
“They have their strongest squad here so will probably be putting out their best XI. If you are to go on that, I’d say they are probably just favourites,” Morgan said.
“For the first time this summer we are seeing the majority of our best team on the park and that’s great.
“Bar injury and absent players, which is only a couple, we are at full strength and that is a nice place to be every now and then.
“We don’t have to pick our best XI every series that we play because we can’t put all our eggs in one basket. We need 16 or 17 players in the lead up to World Cup selection all vying for selection in the best 15.”
England’s captain revealed Buttler would open alongside Jonny Bairstow today with Jason Roy still unavailable due to injury.
However, he refused to confirm who out of Dawid Malan or Tom Banton would bat at three.