Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Morgan has no worries over form

- CRICKET By DAVID CHARLESWOR­TH

ENGLAND captain Eoin Morgan takes a broad view of his lean run of form, insisting the necessity to play high-risk strokes in the middle order from the get-go can at least partially explain his run of low scores.

An innings of 13 not out was his highest in nine offerings upon the resumption last month of the Indian Premier League in the United Arab Emirates, which alongside Oman is hosting the ongoing Twenty20 World Cup.

He has not registered a halfcentur­y for England in the format since August last year and while the 50-over World Cup-winning captain’s position is in no danger at all, he repeated his stance he would drop himself if required. After sitting out England’s warm-up against India, Morgan is set to return to lead the side against New Zealand today as they finalise preparatio­ns for their tournament opener against the West Indies in Dubai this weekend.

Morgan, who confirmed Liam Livingston­e was ‘fine and fully fit’ after injuring a finger in

Monday’s defeat to India, said: “I wouldn’t be standing here if I hadn’t come out of every bad run of form that I’d ever had.

“The nature of T20 cricket and where I bat means I always have to take quite high-risk options. I’ve come to terms with that. I’m going to continue taking those risks if the team dictates they need them, if they don’t, I won’t.

“I’m not going to stand in the way of a team winning the World Cup. I’ve been short of runs but my captaincy has been pretty good. I’ve always managed to compartmen­talise both and treat them as two different challenges.

“Not being a bowler and being a bit older and not contributi­ng as much in the field, I’ve loved the role of captain. You get two bites at the cherry impacting the game.”

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England captain Eoin Morgan

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