Hosts building toward ICC World Cup 2019
Irrespective of what happens in its game against Australia at Edgbaston on Saturday, England will travel to Cardiff for the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 semi-finals as the top team from Group A.
The game might not be of any consequence to it, but it’s certainly no dead rubber for England, for it has a rare chance of knocking old rival Australia out of a global event, and that’s motivation enough to put on a big show.
Eoin Morgan, though, said there was more at stake – that of winning the tournament in a bid to building a confident unit for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.
“They're always big games, regardless of what's on the line,” said Morgan of England-Australia encounters. “Also, the fortunes that they've had with the weather probably adds a bit to it. Their tournament is on the line in this game whereas we're already through. But from our perspective, if we're looking to win this tournament and go beyond and win the World Cup, we need to be beating the best sides in the world, and Australia at the moment are one of them.
“We emphasise the positive game in which we play. Sometimes that can look a little bit reckless at times. I suppose it can put us in some sticky situations, but we're in a position where we have nothing to lose. We're pretty confident at the moment, and I think the game that we've got, if we produce somewhere near our best, we'll certainly contend.”
Morgan’s exposure to England-Australia games has been restricted to limited-overs cricket, but he said that victory against the Australians in a tournament like this would make him, and the other non-Test players in his side, feel as close as possible to an Ashes Test win. “I think they do,” he said when asked if his team’s juices flow a little bit more when playing Australia. “I think anybody that's been there and played against them before, when you win against Australia, you know you're beating one of the better sides in the world. There's always something more on it.
“I've been in a position where I haven't played in Ashes cricket, and certainly there are other guys like that down in the change room. So from that side of things, if you never get to play in an Ashes game, this is the closest you will ever get to beating an Australia team.”
Morgan is not in the England selectors’ radar for the longest format but when it comes to the limited-overs sides, he has the unanimous backing of everyone involved in English cricket after having successfully plotted England’s limited-overs revical since the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.
His influence on the side has been increasing gradually and Morgan is not afraid to take unpopular decisions, like backing Jason Roy despite the opener’s poor form.
Morgan said he didn’t feel in complete control yet, but said he has gained trust in the English setup with results. “I don't think you're ever in total control. I don't think you should ever assume that you are,” he said. “There are always things that arise that need to be either dealt with or future plans that need to be put in place. So I can't say I'm ever in complete control. But certainly, I think at the moment, people take my views with a bit more of a backing as opposed to maybe when I first started with no games under my belt.
“It's building trust. I say things in maybe selection meetings or meetings that we have as a team, and they might be a bit farfetched. But when we back them up as a side, they're not. I think that builds trust within a group. So if you can demonstrate what you're trying to say and achieve that, I think it goes a long way within a side.”
Morgan’s tenure as captain and the successful transformation of the side into world beaters is comparable to what Brendon McCullum did with New Zealand. Morgan said the New Zealander was indeed an inspiration for him, but pointed out that England’s new era was inspired from all the teams that made it to the semi-finals of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, and not just New Zealand.
“He's certainly been an inspiration for me,” said Morgan of McCullum. “Three years at Calcutta (Kolkata Knight Riders) with him, in which we sort of grew pretty close together, and I learned a lot from him, watching him lead within a group and his sort of tactical cricket brain and how he goes about things. He always has an alternative view regardless of whether it's right or wrong, which makes things really interesting when you chat to him about cricket.
“(But) I always mention the top four teams that got to the semis in Australia and New Zealand (in World Cup 2015), the brand of cricket they played was completely different to everybody else. They were aggressive. They could score 350 if needed, and they always went for an attacking bowling line-ups. Nothing they ever did was a step backwards. So (we took) that as a template.”