Hopefuls have chance to push for World Cup
‘ODIS VITAL AHEAD OF T20 WORLD CUP’
EOIN Morgan dismissed any notion of England’s one-day international series against India being an anti-climax as he challenged those on the periphery of the white-ball sides to use the experience to push their T20 World Cup claims.
A lot of attention has been on the Test and T20 assignments of a seven-week tour which will conclude on Sunday after the last of three ODIs in a series where Jofra Archer, Joe Root and Chris Woakes are high-profile absentees.
Moeen Ali was conspicuously unused in each of the five T20s as India exposed one or two flaws in England’s set-up to claim a 3-2 victory and burnish their credentials ahead of the global tournament they are hosting this year.
But the off-spinning all-rounder, alongside the likes of Sam Billings, Liam Livingstone and Reece Topley, may come into the reckoning in
Pune this week, and Morgan insists the matches today, on Friday and on
Sunday will be a useful exercise.
Asked whether those on the margins can put themselves in the frame for a squad place at the World Cup, Morgan replied: “Absolutely. Given the squads are very similar, we see both skill sets as very valuable. “Playing any international cricket is a huge opportunity for guys who have been here on the fringes and not made selection so far. We see the 50-over format between the two T20 World Cups as a building block for our squad.
“It has been an extremely productive tour so far. The biggest picture is always the World Cup in both white-ball formats. You don’t always have to win every series in order to win a World Cup.
“You continuously need to get better, need to be tested as a side, need to fail in order to learn. That involves losing, which isn’t fun but it is part of the journey.” Moeen was sidelined for the Sri Lanka series in January after contracting coronavirus, while he was rested for the final two Tests in India, briefly returning home, in expectation he would be integral to the white-ball plans.
Despite a frustrating time this winter, Morgan has been encouraged at how Moeen has handled himself, saying: “The little period Mo spent at home before this series has done him the world of good.
“He has come back refreshed and with plenty of energy. He is a very relaxed guy who always has a reasonable perspective on life and sport and the role that it plays within society. He is travelling really well.”
Logistical challenges to travel routes and an obligatory quarantine period in
India have led to Root and Woakes not returning to India, while Archer’s elbow trouble means he misses this series.
Ben Stokes is likely to feature today in his first ODI since his starring role in the 2019 World Cup final.