Sunderland Echo

Silverwood wants Morgan to stay on as England limited-overs skipper

-

Chris Silverwood wants Eoin Morgan to continue leading England and revealed the limited-overs captain has already started looking ahead to next year’s T20 World Cup in Australia.

England bowed out of this year’s edition at the semi-final stage as, despite topping their Super12sgr­oupwithfou­rwins out of five, they came unstuck against New Zealand in a fivewicket defeat at Abu Dhabi on

Wednesday.

Morgan indicated his eagerness to carry on at the helm in the aftermath but, while he has amassed just 150 runs in 16 T20interna­tionalsata­meagre 16.66and120st­rike-rate,hehas come through similar barren patches before.

Even though he will be 36 when England head Down Under for a second attempt at becoming the first nation to hold both World Cup crowns simultaneo­usly, Silverwood suspects Morgan could still have a few years left ahead of him.

England’s head coach said: “He’s a very strong leader and has been for many years now. I still think he’s got a lot of years in front of him that he can give to this team, and this team enjoy having him at the front.

“What he brings to the team from a tactical and motivation­alpointofv­iewandfrom the way he gets all the players and staff to buy in behind him and to follow him, he brings so much more than just the batting.

“I think we are a stronger unit for it. For me, the longer he is there, the better. Morgs and I talk a lot, we are always chatting away.

"On the coach on the way back after the game, his mind hadalready­goneontoth­enext one, what do we need to do, what are we looking for.

“As soon as those conversati­ons start, in my mind, that is itforushe’sin.Hewantsit,and he wants to lead.”

Morgan has been instrument­al to England’s white-ball revolution, overseeing their historic first 50-over global trophy in 2019, and Silverwood suggested the Dubliner will have his current role for as long as he wants.

Asked whether he would have any interventi­on about Morgan’seventualr­etirement, Silverwood said: “He’s got to make that decision himself, I believe.Ithinkhewi­llmakehis mind up when he’s ready.”

Silverwood admitted Englandwer­e“hurting”aftercomin­g a cropper against the Black Caps, who slumped to 13 for two in pursuit of 167 and appeared to be in an unenviable position when they needed 57 from the last 24 balls.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom