Morgan and Hales all set to return

EOIN MORGAN and Alex Hales’ return to international action will be confirmed when England announce their limited-overs squads to face India on this evening.

Captain Morgan and record-breaking opener Hales caused a stir when they opted out of their country’s last one-day international tour of Bangladesh because of security fears after the deadly terror attack on a Dhaka cafe five months ago.

England and Wales Cricket Board director Andrew Strauss responded, before Jos Buttler stepped in to lead the team to a hard-fought 2-1 series victory, by voicing his “disappointment” at Morgan and Hales’ absence.

Strauss has never given any strong indication, however, of anything other than the pair’s likely return to face India in January and February in three one-day internationals and three Twenty20s.

Before last month’s second Test of the ongoing five-match series against India, in fact, he revisited his previous promise that – despite ‘no guarantees’ of future inclusion – Morgan’s Bangladesh opt-out would not be held against him.

Strauss said: “It was a difficult process leading into the Bangladesh tour, and we told the players there wouldn’t be any recriminations for pulling out.

“I stand by what I said, and there is every reason to expect Eoin Morgan will come back in as captain against India.

“He’s done a great job with the one-day team over the last 18 months, and it has been a phenomenal transformation.

“Eoin has to take a lot of credit for that growth, and we look forward to him continuing that.”