Leaving out Salt and Hain was a tough call – Morgan

ENGLAND captain Eoin Morgan admitted Phil Salt and Sam Hain were unlucky to be left out of the squad to face Ireland ahead of the one-day international series at the Ageas Bowl.

Sussex opener Salt registered a 58-ball hundred against the same opponents at the venue for England Lions on Sunday while Warwickshire batsman Hain averages 59.78 in List A matches.

However, England have plumped for the more tried and trusted fringe players such as James Vince and Sam Billings ahead of their first series on home soil as world champions.

On the eve of today’s opening match, Morgan said: “Over the last four and a bit years we have always had tough decisions to make and I think everybody who was left out was a tough call.

“The standard and skill level which has been produced since the guys have come together has been exceptional. It has been way above the standard I expected given the time we had off.

“The two guys were unlucky to miss out, along with others.

“I think we are blessed with a high-calibre group of top-order batters, not only in the first XI but also sitting in the wings.”

ENGLAND SQUAD: Eoin Morgan (Middlesex) captain, Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Tom Banton (Somerset), Sam Billings (Kent), Tom Curran (Surrey), Liam Dawson (Hampshire), Joe Denly (Kent), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Jason Roy (Surrey), Reece Topley (Surrey), James Vince (Hampshire), David Willey (Yorkshire).

RESERVES: Richard Gleeson (Lancashire), Lewis Gregory (Somerset), Liam Livingstone (Lancashire).