Eoin Morgan takes charge of England again after heroic last-ball six to win final Big Bash match
With Morgan’s Sydney Thunder needing five runs to win, he hoisted huge maximum... a perfect springboard ahead of six-months of white-ball cricket
EOIN MORGAN takes charge of England again today after hitting a last-ball six to win his final match in the Big Bash.
With Morgan’s Sydney Thunder needing five runs to beat Melbourne Stars, Morgan hoisted Ben Hilfenhaus for a huge maximum over the sightscreen.
The normally-cool Morgan — who hit just 23 runs from his first 32 balls — finished with 71 not out from 50 deliveries and jumped up and down, punching the air, like a demented jack-in-a-box.
It was the perfect springboard as Morgan begins a six-month bonanza of white-ball cricket, with England facing at least 15 limited-overs games before their next Test on July 6.
And he believes it will end with glory in the final of the Champions Trophy at The Oval on June 18.
Morgan said: “This is a huge year for us. We’ve done a lot of things right over the last year or so.
“It’s a case of producing them again especially in our own conditions when we get to the Champions Trophy.”
The build-up starts with Morgan’s return as captain for three 50-over and three Twenty20 matches in India after controversially missing the tour of Bangladesh. And he does not expect any backlash when he reclaims the armband from Jos Buttler.
Morgan, 30, said: “I spoke with Jos pretty much after every game and a little with the coaches. I didn’t want to encroach on anything or have direct influence because it might detract from the tour. But there was open communication if necessary.”
Sam Billings, Jason Roy and David Willey also arrive in India direct from the Big Bash.
Alex Hales, another who skipped Bangladesh, returns while Joe Root will fly in late after the birth of his first baby, which is due any day.
England insist Root will play in at least one warm-up before the first 50-over international on January 15.
> Meanwhile MS Dhoni, 35, has quit as India’s limited-overs captain after a decade in charge but is still available to play against England.