Morgan sees chance for England to tackle spin
E o i n M o r g a n b e l i e v e s England must adapt and improve on spinning pitches if they are to successfully defend their World Cup t i t l e in India, and hop es that work can begin in earnest during the one - day series against Australia.
Captain Morgan is anticipating a gentle turner at E m i r a t e s O l d Tr a f f o r d , where, starting today, the rivals will play three ODIS in the next six days, with t h e we a t h e r c o n d i t i o n s and wicket likely to favour slow bowlers.
I n t h e r e c e n t p a s t t h a t wo u l d h ave b e e n c a u s e for frustration, with Engl a n d ’s r i s e t o No 1 i n t h e ICC rankings built around posting big totals on good b a t t i n g t r a c k s a n d t h e i r tournament triumph last s u mmer d r iven by t h e i r pace attack. But with the next edition due to be held i n I n d i a in t h r ee ye a r s – a s we l l a s a T 2 0 Wo r l d Cup there next autumn – Morgan is embracing the need for change.
“It’s a huge benefit to us p l ay i n g a t Ol d Tr a f f o r d , par ticularly if we play on t h e wi c ke t I t h i n k we’r e going to play on which will hopefully be slow and take a lot of turn,” he said.
“That’s the sort of wicket we will be more than likely to play on in India in the World Cup of 2023 and to play on that for a period of time will expose us in different areas we need to get better at.
“I think going away from what we are strong at will do us good for a period of time. It allows us to focus o n t h i n g s t h a t a r e o u r weaknesses as a side, so it creates a new dynamic.”
England have a fully-fit squad of 14, including the returning Jason Roy, with Mo rg a n a l s o c l e a r a f t e r missing the final T20 i n S outhampton with a dislocated finger.
Australia were bested 2-1 in the T20 series and now have to find a way to turn the tide in a format that England have thrived i n during recent years.
“They’ve had the wo o d on us in the recent past, no doubt, and that’s fine – we’re not looking behind us, we’re looking for ward at star ting well [to day],” s a i d A u s t r a l i a c a p t a i n Aaron Finch.