Eoin Morgan
The Batsmen was named in the England Test Squad in the upcoming series against Sri Lanka despite choosing to play IPL over county cricket.
Morgan admitted that he may have been gambling with his position in the side by choosing the Indian Premier League over the start of the country county season, but insisted that test cricket always come first and will always be his first priority.
The England batsmen chose the lucrative IPL contract over the country county season in contrast with his team-mate Ravi Bopara, who turned down the IPL contract to play the county cricket in England for Essex. Morgan’s decision to choose IPL over county could have cost him dearly during the selection for the Test Team. Many felt that Morgan would not be considered by the selectors and Bopara looked in top flight for that middle order slot.
However, Morgan had a single chance to show his worth to the selectors, playing a warm-up match for the England Lions against Sri Lanka. He took the opportunity with both hands as he strongly was strongly impressive – scoring an eye catching 193 against the tourists to edge out his team-mate Bopara, who scored a mere 17 in the same innings.
Morgan earlier stated that he would return to the Indian Premier League if he was not named in the England Side. Questions were again raised about the Irish Born player about his commitment, but his risk taking strategies have just proved the way he wanted his season.
Morgan was not surprised to be named in the Squad. “I wasn’t surprised (to be named in the squad), said Morgan ahead of Thursday’s match at Cardiff’s SWALEC Stadium.”
“I went on the tour to Australia and I’ve been part of the side for some time now. It certainly wasn’t a massive surprise, no.
“But I knew it (going to India) was a gamble; I knew that from the start. You have to gamble in order to throw yourself out there and do well.
“For me it was a hard decision but it was the right one.”
England’s national Selector, Geoff Miller, said that he planned to talk to the batsmen about his priorities after the batsmen stated that he would return back to the sub-continent if not selected, but the batsmen made it clear that Test cricket has always been his first priorities.
Morgan stated “My priorities are quite clear: Test match cricket comes first and always has done.”
“Test match cricket always comes first and foremost. It’s why I play the game, it’s where everybody tests themselves and what everybody is judged on.”
Morgan also explained about his decision to go back to India if he failed to make it to the test side. He revealed that there were both cricketing and contractual reasons behind his decision.
He added “If I wasn’t picked for the squad I didn’t want to hang around, dawdle and feel sorry for myself.”
“Number one, I wanted to do something and number two, I was contractually obliged to go back out, I had no choice.”
Morgan believes that he learned a lot from playing in India and playing there helped him to improve and mature as a player.
He further added “The amount I learned last year just by playing five games and staying out there for the next three weeks, practising every day and rubbing shoulders with legends of the game, did massive amounts for me.”
“I felt the progress I made in the month or two out there would exceed the four games I might play in county cricket.”
Tags: Cricket, England, Eoin Morgan, Indian Premier League, IPL, Sri Lanka, Test Cricket
