Chance to book place for the T20 World Cup
EOIN OPENS AUDITION
EOIN MORGAN has set the hare running for places in his T20 World Cup squad by branding the next four weeks as a “genuine” audition.
And for Chris Woakes, Liam Livingstone and David Willey, their return to the set-up could not have come at a better time to make an impact.
England play the first of three T20 games against Sri Lanka tonight, with injuries to Jofra Archer and Reece Topley preventing their inclusion, while Ben Stokes is close but not quite ready to return to the international arena.
The squad is otherwise at full strength, which means a strong performance or two from Woakes – who has missed the past 52 England T20s but remains a regular pick at IPL auctions – could see him leapfrog Tom Curran or even Chris Jordan into a first-choice spot.
Morgan said: “We’re using this patch of white-ball cricket that we’re playing to grow the squad but also to utilise positions that might be available at the World Cup in October.
“Both Chris and Dave have played a lot for us in the past, both 50-over and T20, so we know the potential that they have. It’s great they’re back involved, specifically for T20 cricket in the build-up to the World Cup.
“It’s important to try to get guys that we feel will play a part in the World Cup some form of opportunity during the next four weeks.
“And the things we look at in the next four weeks will be a serious and genuine look, with World Cup selection down the line.”
Test skipper Joe Root could be forgiven for casting an envious glance at Morgan’s selection headaches, given that he is yet to have a full-strength squad to pick from in 2021.
Root will also know that World Cup selection is unlikely for him after missing out here, even if Morgan has not officially closed the door.
Alex Hales is another with very little chance of getting back into the squad, with work still to be done on regaining trust in Covid times and with so many quality options ahead of him such as Jos Buttler and Jason Roy, who continue their opening partnership this week.
Morgan said: “It is a rare case for me to have this strong a squad in the summer. Joe and I have a level of understanding, having spoken about it.
“We know full well there will be areas and fixtures and series where both of us wouldn’t have our strongest available squads out.
“Obviously Joe is keen to get back involved when he can, and we’re not ruling him out. With Alex, I think the longer you spend out of the side the further away you get from the position you once had.
“He’s a very fine player, but when you look at the players that we have available to us at the moment, we’re spoiled.”