Mumbai: Eoin Morgan, England’s One Day International (ODI) and T20 skipper is set to lead against India in ODIs according to England’s chief selector James Whitaker. Morgan pulled out of Bangladesh tour due to security concerns in the wake of terrorist attacks.
Morgan alongside opening batsman Alex Hales informed the selectors that they are hesitant to tour Bangladesh before the squad was announced. Hales recently became the highest individual run scorer in ODI for England against Pakistan at Trent Bridge.
Former Irish batsman Morgan has been praised by pundits for England’s revival in ODI cricket. He has led from the front after England’s horrendous show in Australia and New Zealand during 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup.
“Eoin has done exceptionally well as captain,” national selector Whitaker told reporters at Trent Bridge after announcing the squads for the Bangladesh tour.
“Over the last couple of years he’s established a really good leadership base. He’s done a marvellous job.
“It’s slightly disappointing that he’s turned this opportunity down, but we expect him to be captain in India.”
Whitaker, a former England batsman, added: “At the same time, we’ll review as we do after every series. And all I’ll say is, I expect him to be captain in India.”
The Bangladesh tour will begin on 30th September comprises of two Tests and three ODIs. The tour was in jeopardy after the deadly attacks, which killed 20 hostages and 18 of them were foreigners.
However, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) gave the tour of go ahead after their security advisor Reg Dickason consulted with Bangladesh authorities regarding the security measurements.
Michael Vaughan, former three lions skipper was not impressed and wrote a scathing article regarding the issue in Daily Telegraph and questioned Morgan’s character and his commitment to English cricket.
“Morgan has made a huge mistake,” Vaughan wrote in his Daily Telegraph column on Monday.
“You tell (your team) to be strong so they can go the extra yard.
“I do not see how he can look them in the eye and ask them to do that in the future.”
Jos Buttler, interim captain backed Morgan and said that team is 100 percent behind him and there will be no bad blood and he is more than happy to pass the captain’s arm band when Morgan returns for the India leg of the tour.
“He’s very much still the captain of the England ODI side,” said Buttler of Morgan on Monday.
“He’s done a fantastic job over the last 18 months.
“He’s been one of the main reasons, if not the main reason, for the turnaround in fortunes,” the dynamic 26-year-old Lancashire wicket-keeper/batsman insisted.
“The style of cricket he’s got the side playing is something we want to continue and keep playing that brand of cricket.”
Buttler added: “He (Morgan) has made the decision that is right for him and it is not one he has taken lightly…People should respect that.”
Morgan has been attacked from all quarters and it will be interesting to see how England performs against Bangladesh. The Bangla tigers are no pushover and it promises to be a hard fought and intriguing series. Morgan and Hales have time to reflect on their decision and only way they can win their critics is by scoring heaps of runs against Indians in the ODI and T20 series.