Eoin Morgan says that England will not be taking Bangladesh lightly in their crucial group match on Monday but admitted that his side expect to win. The captain also hinted that England could go into the match with an unchanged batting side, despite three heavy defeats.
England must win their final two matches, against Bangladesh and – in Sydney on Saturday – Afghanistan, if they are to qualify for a Melbourne quarter-final, probably against India.
In the nine-wicket defeat by Sri Lanka, England’s bowlers failed to defend 309, the second successive match in which they had posted more than 300, considered the bare minimum on good pitches these days, but this appears not to concern Morgan. Instead, he took the positives. “It was the second time we had scored 300,” he said. “Joe Root’s hundred was magnificent and the way Jos Buttler played at the end was outstanding. Our last 10 to 12 overs were brilliant and backing that up after Scotland was very important for us as a side.”
England, though, should have scored more runs and the form of Gary Ballance, batting at No3, is a cause for concern. The Yorkshire left-hander, who enjoyed a prolific summer, has scored 36 runs, at an average of nine and a strike rate of 50. Alex Hales could be considered instead, but Morgan backed Ballance. “The decision we made to put Gary at three was a huge one and, given that there wasn’t very much between him and Alex, Gary got the nod,” he said. “It was a feeling at the time and a lot of people would agree with me in saying that if we had gone with Alex you wouldn’t have been surprised.
“But people can be twice the player when they are not playing, particularly when someone is not doing well. Alex is working tremendously hard and, if given the chance, I’m sure he would take it.”
“Before the Sri Lanka game, I re-emphasised Gary’s strength – you never lose that and we are four games in now, and one game further down the road of how Gary is at. We will assess over the next couple of days. It is a big decision to change anyone in the side and it won’t be taken lightly, and it won’t be made quickly.
“I think Gary has been a bit unlucky in the way he has got out. Go back to the first game against Australia, where he chipped on to midwicket, the other day an inside edge went straight back to the bowler. He is very disappointed with where he’s at at the moment.”
