Eoin Morgan: we’re still expanding limits in T20
'Our strategy is quite simple – to continue testing ourselves, our ability, regardless of any situation we play'
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Your support makes all the difference.Eoin Morgan’s England will continue pushing their boundaries, on captain’s orders, in the Twenty20 series set to start against Pakistan.
The tourists recovered from an opening one-day international defeat to clinch that series 3-1 – thanks largely to Jos Buttler’s brilliant 46-ball hundred at the Dubai International Stadium last week.
They return to the same venue today for the first of three Twenty20s, in which the captain is calling for more of the same. Morgan sees no reason to modify the bold approach, which has served England well for six months since they committed to all-out limited-overs attack, on home soil against New Zealand and Australia.
The new adventure began in 50-over cricket – but even after just four Twenty20 internationals since England’s failed campaign in the last global tournament 20 months ago, Morgan is confident that white ball skills are interchangeable.
He hopes the forthcoming three matches in five days, to end this tour of the United Arab Emirates, can help to ready his team for the next ICC World Twenty20 in India in March.
“Our strategy is quite simple – to continue testing ourselves, our ability, regardless of any situation we play. We are trying to test our boundaries and capabilities as players.”
England have ripped up the template which got them nowhere in the 50-over World Cup in Australia and New Zealand last winter, and have fast-tracked a new breed of player.
“I think our progress since the start of the summer has been outstanding,” Morgan said. “We continue to push our boundaries, and the opposition, at every stage of the game. We’ve never taken a backward step since we’ve come together as a squad.
“As long as that continues, and we’re honest with ourselves and learn along the way, it will hold us in good stead for the Twenty20 World Cup.”
Buttler’s century followed maiden ODI hundreds for the openers Alex Hales and Jason Roy on this trip, and Morgan said: “I’m excited. We have a lot more to offer. We’re going to come up against similar challenges [to the ODIs] but are obviously going to have to be a lot more aggressive.”
Large crowds, unlike for the three-match Test series here, are expected as the expat Pakistani community shows its love for white ball cricket.
England’s next opponents, South Africa, failed to capitalise on a strong start against India on day one of the third Test in Nagpur yesterday.
The hosts posted 215 but then reduced South Africa to 11 for 2 at the close.
Murali Vijay top-scored for India with 40, and a cluster of other players also got starts but could not go on as India – boosted by 21 extras – posted the highest total of the series so far. The off-spinning all-rounder Simon Harmer finished with 4 for 78.
The tourists had to negotiate an awkward nine overs, and India dismissed Stiaan van Zyl (nought) and nightwatchman Imran Tahir (four).
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