ROOT CENTURY SETS UP STROLL
One-day victory proves walk in the park for England
EOIN MORGAN has dismissed the notion that England’s first XI is inked in for the forthcoming Champions Trophy on home soil and insists even trimming down to a 15-man squad will prove tricky, such are the depth in options available.
England completed a 3-0 one-day series whitewash over West Indies with a polished performance at the Kensington Oval, where centuries from the returning Alex Hales as well as Yorkshire’s Joe Root steered the tourists to a comprehensive 186run victory.
Hales’ ton in just his third international in six months underlines the resources England have at their disposal. He ousted the unfortunate Sam Billings and took his chance with aplomb, while another White Rose player, Jonny Bairstow, has had to watch on from the sidelines for the entire the series.
Yorkshire’s Liam Plunkett and Chris Woakes have caught the eye with the ball, while Steven Finn seems to have played himself back into contention, taking advantage of the injuryenforced absences of the likes of another Headingley man, David Willey, and Mark Wood.
Morgan therefore agreed that he and England’s selectors have been given some food for thought.
He said : “It’s a struggle to get 15, we probably have 16 or 17 quality players that we can select from at the moment and we’re very lucky to be in that position. Selecting 15 for the Champions Trophy is going to be tough, but it’s a great position to be in. “You’ve got guys coming into the side who didn’t necessarily see themselves playing in this series and have made huge contributions, match-winning ones. It’s a very good, strong sign for our cricket at the moment.
“I think the biggest area we’ve improved in this series has been adapting to conditions, not necessarily playing in conditions that have suited us that well. The bowlers have grown in stature through that.
“Conditions will change from here on in to the Champions Trophy, but how we adapt to that will surmise how we play.”