Morgan on the attack
EOIN Morgan could only rue the collapse which cost England a series victory against New Zealand.
England’s white-ball captain is unrepentant, however, about the attacking intent which fell flat after Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root raced to 267 for one in the 38th over of the fourth one-day international in Dunedin.
The tourists promptly lost their next six wickets for 21 on the way to 335 for nine – and then had no answer to Ross Taylor’s brilliance after New Zealand initially faltered to two for two in reply.
The Kiwis pulled off a five-wicket win, with three balls to spare, to level the series at 2-2 and set up a weekend decider, with Taylor unbeaten on a career-best 181.
He outdid both Bairstow (138) and Root (102), sharing a stand of 187 with Durham’s Tom Latham (71) in response to the Yorkshire pair’s 190. Morgan did not dispute England lost the match when four of their most powerful batsmen – including himself – mustered nine runs collectively as Kiwi leg-spinner Ish Sodhi (four for 58) intervened.
Asked if the collapse had been decisive, he said: “Yes, it has.”
At the suggestion it was a case of over-ambition, though, he went on: “I’m a big fan of over-ambition.
“When two guys play out of their skin ... we have to put the cream on the cake and the cherry on top. We were miles away from it today.
“Our skill level wasn’t good enough to take risks that early – whereas it should be.”
There will be no inquest unless middle-order collapses are repeated and no recriminations.
Morgan added: “It’s something which has not happened before and is extremely disappointing.
“All four of us who got out for very little all came in and were gutted because there was a hell of a lot of hard work put in to get us in that position.”
Asked if himself, Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali had let the second-wicket pair down, Morgan said: “No, no. We win together, we lose together.”