Eoin Morgan has credited a “no consequences” approach to white-ball cricket that, in his opinion, sees England enter the World Twenty20 with a different feel to previous campaigns.
The captain, speaking before Wednesday’s opening fixture with West Indies in Mumbai, was retained following a dismal 50-over World Cup 12 months ago and has seen fresh blood flourish under him and the new head coach, Trevor Bayliss.
Morgan said: “I think this feels different, because we’ve a different group of players. It’s a new energy, it’s an exciting time for English cricket given the talent that we have in our group, and the attitude in taking the game to the opposition. It certainly feels different in that regard.”
Asked what he put this down to, the 29-year-old said: “A lot of it comes down to a number of the players’ performances, the attitude they’ve shown with the bat. We’ve played a lot more positive cricket –and haven’t been afraid to go out and play with no consequences – which has been a big plus for us.”
On his team for Wednesday’s fixture, Morgan remained coy over whether the all‑rounder David Willey, fresh from a hat‑trick when playing against England with a local Mumbai side in Monday’s warm-up, or the fast bowler Liam Plunkett would get the nod.
“Keep guessing. If you could guess me a few winners at Cheltenham that’d be great as well,” he said, on the one selection issue for an otherwise stable side.
West Indies, meanwhile, will include Andre Russell, the powerful Jamaican all‑rounder who faces a possible two‑year ban from the sport under World Anti‑Doping Agency rules following three missed drugs tests in the space of 12 months. The 27-year-old, who plies his trade in Twenty20 tournaments around the world, is free to continue playing until his case his heard by an independent tribunal, the date of which is yet to be set.
“As a team we always have setbacks,” Darren Sammy, the captain, said. “We can use that as motivation to go out and play well. When we play well, no other team can match it; the vibes we bring. We are confident Russell will take part in the full tournament and have an impact.”
On the challenge of facing a rejuvenated England, Sammy said: “They’re a good side. We respect every team we play. They have some guys who have performed over the last 12 months – Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, the captain Eoin Morgan – they are good players. We won’t take them for granted but we’ll focus on what we can do.”
