Morgan unfazed as England risk losing top ODI ranking to India
Eoin Morgan is unconcerned about the possibility of England losing top spot in the ODI as the limited-overs captain revealed he is a doubt for his side’s next match against India in Pune due to injury.
India won the first of three ODIs between the top two ranked nations by a 66-run margin. A clean sweep would lead to world champions England being usurped from the top position they have held in the table for much of the last three years, but Morgan is unfazed at the prospect as he sees the bigger picture.
He said: “We don’t guard it at all, it’s not something that we talk about in the changing room. Everything is built towards planning being competitive at a World Cup and trying to improve our skills over that period of time.
“It’s about building a group of players that hopefully will bring something really top quality in a World Cup.”
England’s defeat was compounded by injuries to Morgan and Sam Billings. Morgan required four stitches after splitting the webbing on his right hand while fielding.
Billings landed awkwardly on the left shoulder he had dislocated in 2019, necessitating surgery that ruled him out of the winning World Cup campaign. He has sprained his collar-bone joint.
Both were able to bat on Tuesday but the injuries place a question mark over their availabilities for tomorrow’s second ODI. Morgan said: “It’s never going to be at 100 per cent, but it’s not that I can’t hold a bat. When you have a split webbing, fielding is a concern and with Sam, landing while he’s fielding. We’re going to wait and give us as much time as needed.”