FITZPATRICK BLASTS LIONS TOUR AS A ‘FARCE’ AND ‘CRIMINAL’
Captain Fantastic Morgan is praised for turning England from useless to priceless..and that comes from a NEW ZEALANDER GREAT BRITAIN BOSS BENNETT IN THE FIRING LINE
JOE ROOT is in a battle for his Twenty20 future as new England coach Chris Silverwood looks to him to lead a new era of run-making in Tests.
Root has long stood out as the best all-round English batsman of his generation. But his ability to thread a gap in Test and one-day cricket may not be enough in the fast-paced T20 arena. Silverwood, who will lean heavily on short-form skipper Eoin Morgan for guidance, said: “It’s a conversation that myself, Morgs and the selectors have got to have. Joe is a good player across all formats. It’s a great headache.”
WARRINGTON chief executive and former Ireland international Karl Fitzpatrick says the Lions tour has descended into farce – and that Wayne Bennett should never have been appointed coach.
Bennett (left) has come under fire for three defeats
EOIN MORGAN has been hailed for his ‘significant impact’ on English sport by the man who inspired his 2019 World Cupwinning plan.
Morgan signed memorable year by beating New Zealand in a second super over inside four months to claim a T20 away series victory with a young and inexperienced squad.
But it is his status as a World Cup-winning captain alongside Bobby Moore and Martin Johnson that elevates him to rarified company. And former Kiwi skipper Brendon McCullum is in no doubt just how influential Morgan has been.
“He’s turned a team from dire straits to standing on the podium within four years,” said McCullum, who is currently filming a golf and travel programme in New Zealand alongside Phil Tufnell (right). “He’s done something that not too many English captains in any sport get to achieve and he’ll go down as a guy who made a significant impact on people and and his comments that selection has been based around England’s plans for the 2021 World Cup.
The veteran Aussie is out of contract this month and Fitzpatrick says his appointment by the RFL has been part of the problem in Great Britain’s first outing in 12 years. Fitzpatrick said: “It’s become a farce and off a the game. He’s done it with a style of play that is so difficult to get everyone to buy into.
“It shouldn’t be, but it is so difficult to get guys to go out there and free themselves up and deal with the pressures and criticisms that come.
“Anyone can say, ‘Go out there and play with freedom’. But then if they follow it up with, ‘Whatever you do, don’t get out’, th en that message is hollow. He has constantly reinforced it.
“Here with the T20 side, he’s got this young squad to perform probably better than they should.
“They are talented, but they shouldn’t really be competing with our team over here, but he’s such a strong leader he is able to convince them to play the way they have.” Morgan very disappointing. Selection was questionable with six half-backs and two wingers. When that came out there were a lot of eyebrows raised. Rightly so.
“The rationale behind it suggested it was a trial period for England, and that has diluted and devalued the iconic British brand. It’s criminal. It’s absolutely a admits that McCullum’s leadership at the 2015 World Cup, where they dished out a seismic thrashing to England en route to the final, was the catalyst for his own revolution that ended in glory at Lord’s in July.
McCullum (above with Morgan) reckons his friend put his own twist on things over the four years to produce a team of worthy winners and, despite his love for the Black Caps, he believes the right team won the final.
“Make no mistake Eoin has done it his own way,” added McCullum, who was the MC at Morgan’s wedding last November. “He didn’t just copy me, he has taken snippets from different people and used it in his way.
“New Zealand were mighty in defeat, but the right team won the final and it was the right team for cricket internationally, too, because they had played so well over three years.
“Kane Williamson also built a team in his own style in a short space of time, but I’m pleased for Eoin, of course.
“Our public personas might be slightly different, but privately we’re similar, very relaxed, we enjoy life and we’re quintessentially Kiwi and Irish people.”
Morgan’s record as ODI captain Played 111 Innings 102 Not out 13 Runs 4,050 Highest 148 Average 45.5 Strike rate 96.61 100s 8 50s 28 Ducks 8 Fours 340 Sixes 138 Morgan’s record as T20 captain Played 43 Innings 42 Not out 8 Runs 1,013 Highest 91 Average 29.79 Strike rate 141.28 100s 0 50s 6 Ducks 2 Fours 58 Sixes 62
freely missed opportunity – this was a real chance to propel not only Great Britain as a brand but rugby league in Scotland, Ireland and Wales.
“Great Britain should absolutely have had its own coach, its own identity, social media channels, and a separate strategy.
“It had to be Great Britain, not an England train-on squad or trial period, that’s just ridiculous.”
Wales coach John Kear also believes the “blurred lines” between Great Britain and England have hampered players such as Welsh winger Regan Grace, who has been overlooked, saying it “made it difficult to regain that Great Britain identity. That’s been the problem.”