Morgan takes nothing for granted against Ireland

Eoin Morgan promises England will be fully focused against his native Ireland despite the absence of three first-choice players at the Indian Premier League.

Dublin-born Morgan will lead England at Bristol in the Royal London Series today and at Lord’s on Sunday as Ireland play international fixtures for the first time in the country.

Looking forward to this week, and then the Champions Trophy to come when England take on the world on home ground next month, he said: “It’s something with huge potential and which we’ve been building towards for 18 months now.

“We’ve marked it as the halfway stage to the 2019 World Cup,” he said.

“We’re not taking this game for granted.

“The strength of the side we’re putting out reflects that, and it’s a really important summer for us – so we’re taking it as seriously as any other fixture.”

England will nonetheless be without Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes and Jos Buttler, all involved in the ongoing IPL.

Morgan, by contrast, has flown back to lead his adopted country but insists the trio still in India will derive more benefit there than here, with Stokes lighting up the competition on Sunday with a buccaneering maiden Twenty20 century

Morgan began his international career with Ireland, before switching to England at the age of 22 in 2009.

But he has categorically ruled out returning to finish his career with the country of his birth, even if Ireland receive Test status as they hope to next month.