Let’s keep the Aussies down
Revitalised Morgan’s T20 vow
EOIN MORGAN today returns after a month’s absence from cricket to lead England’s attempt to add gloss to what has been a near-perfect summer.
Victory in today’s Twenty20 international at Cardiff and the fivematch one-day series that follows against Australia would complete England’s extraordinary transformation from the depths of their worst-ever World Cup.
It was the one-day series against New Zealand in June that ignited England’s revival and now six games against Australia across both formats will be the perfect test of their determination to prioritise limited-overs cricket.
Morgan was integral to England’s startling turnaround against New Zealand after new director of cricket Andrew Strauss had put faith in him to remain at the one-day helm, despite looking out of his depth at the World Cup.
Yet his form collapsed on his return to Middlesex and he was given a break that was extended from two weeks to a month and leaves him without any action since he was dismissed for a duck against Hampshire on August 1.
Now Morgan is hoping his return to national duty will see him carry on where he left off against New Zealand as he joins forces for the first time for England with Trevor Bayliss, who stood in as Australia’s coach the last time they played Twenty20 cricket, against South Africa in November. ‘I feel really fresh,’ said Morgan at a watery Swalec Stadium. ‘My attitude, my mind and my body are a lot better than they were a month ago. I’m raring to go and I can’t wait to get started.’
It was England’s one-day captain who sought a sabbatical. He was struggling at Middlesex immediately after assistant coach Paul Farbrace had said, in the aftermath of victory over New Zealand, that he could challenge for a Test return.
That looks further away than ever for Morgan, particularly as Strauss is keen to make the one-day team as separate from the Test one as possible, and he can concentrate all his efforts on accelerating England’s white-ball progress.
‘I sat down with Gus Fraser to talk about a break and he was brilliant in the way he managed it because not many county directors would prioritise England over their own side,’ said Morgan. ‘Sitting here now I’m probably twice the man I was a month ago because of the hectic nature of the schedule and how little time off we have.’
One-day series that follow the Ashes have traditionally taken lower billing but England are determined to emerge as genuine challengers for next year’s World Twenty20 in India and the Champions Trophy and World Cup in the UK in 2017 and 2019.
‘It’s been a huge Ashes summer but now our priority is driving our one- day cricket forward,’ said Morgan. ‘I’m hoping we can add five or six players to those you have seen this year and really build something over the next couple of years.’
Only Joe Root has been rested, while Moeen Ali returns to the squad and is competing with James Vince for the position in a batting line-up brimming with new-found dynamism.
The four England players who featured in Twenty20 finals day on Saturday all practised in Cardiff yesterday with Chris Woakes, who returns to the squad after injury, taking a particularly active all-round role before the rain came.
England must decide today whether they will add another new cap to the pool of players Morgan wants to compile. Leftarm seamer Reece Topley, who is set to leave Essex and join Hampshire to further his international ambitions, has a good chance of making his debut.
New Australia Test captain Steve Smith, standing in as skipper for the injured Aaron Finch here, declared his hand yesterday in naming a side that includes debutant Marcus Stoinis and a leg- spinner in Cameron Boyce, who has travelled from Australia just for this one-off Twenty20 international.
There will be much scrutiny on the Cardiff pitch today after the departure of groundsman Keith Exton following the abandonment of Glamorgan’s one- day game with Hampshire last month due to a dangerous surface.
Hugh Morris, the Glamorgan chief executive and former England managing director, is confident there will be no problems today with the pitches for the final match of the women’s Ashes and the men’s international that follows. LANCASHIRE Lightning captain Steven Croft paid tribute to his team after they won their first T20 Blast with a 13-run win over Northants in the final at Edgbaston.
‘I’m glad we got over the line. We’ve been playing some great T20 cricket,’ said Croft. ‘We’ve had a few injuries here and there, but we built momentum up.’
Alex Davies top-scored with 47 off 26 balls in Lancashire’s 166-7. The Steelbacks needed 21 to win off the final over but it proved too much.
They could muster only 153-6 as Lancashire lifted the trophy for the first time in three final appearances.