Pune: England captain Eoin Morgan said Monday the upcoming three-match ODI series against India would be a great opportunity for fringe players. If they perform they can push their case for the T20 World Cup, pointed out Eoin Morgan This is because the 50-over format also throws situations similar to T20 cricket.
England have already lost the Test and T20Is series. So the Eoin Morgan-led team would be desperate to stamp their authority in the format. They will want to sign off with some pride as England are the current World Champions.
“Given the T20 World Cup round the corner, playing any international cricket is a huge opportunity for guys. I mean players who have been on the fringes and not made selection so far,” Morgan said on the eve of their ODI series opener here. “When you score runs, and take wickets away from home there’s always a huge incentive to try and push your case forward,” he added.
Morgan said it will be exciting to ‘play three games at the same ground against a very, very strong Indian side’.
“It is a huge opportunity for everybody to get back into the frame of mind to deal with 50-over cricket. But also it will be an opportunity for the guys who haven’t had opportunities to really push their case forward,” he said.
The England skipper said 50-over cricket is very close to the T20I format. “There are pockets of the game that replicate T20 cricket, and given that there’s very limited change between both squads. Given the two squads are very similar, we see set skill sets as very valuable,” Morgan stated.
“I think they’re trying to envisage where 50 overs cricket will be in three years’ time. It is going to be quite difficult. The challenge for us is always trying to explore and push the limits as much as we can, given the conditions,” added the England skipper.
“I think conditions that are a little bit alien to us naturally, like India, it’s always nice to get out of your comfort zone and learn more about your team and your play and to try and make mistakes and learn,” Morgan further added.