Test axe cruel but it’s not the last we’ll see of Morgan
ENGLAND’S selectors displayed a hitherto unseen ruthless streak yesterday when they announced Eoin Morgan had been axed from the Test squad that will tour Sri Lanka next month.
Clearly Morgan struggled out in Abu Dhabi and Dubai against Pakistan’s spinners, averaging just over 13 from three Tests, but he was hardly alone there and considering how much faith the selectors have shown the likes of Ian Bell in the past, I’m surprised they’ve taken the Irishman out of the firing line at pretty much the first sign of trouble.
The Middlesex left-hander (right) is an extremely gifted operator who will remain a central figure in the one-day and Twenty20 sides. As long as he continues to prosper in those formats of the game he’ll be back in the Test side before too long, I’m sure.
Morgan’s loss is likely to be Ravi Bopara’s gain, but Samit Patel must also be in with a chance of forcing his way into that middle order after he impressed with both bat and ball against Pakistan towards the end of the tour.
Clearly he’s never going to have the body and fitness levels of Usain Bolt, but he’s obviously done enough to satisfy the coaching staff and he deserves credit for revitalising a career that could quite easily have gone the other way.
TOUR OF TWO HALVES
England will head to Sri Lanka having learnt a lot about themselves following their contests against Pakistan.
It’s encouraging to see a fair number of the batsmen intending to head there early in an effort to acclimatise to what are likely to be stifling conditions.
Had England enjoyed that sort of preparation ahead of their tour of the United Arab Emirates, or at least played the one-dayers before the Test series, I’m convinced Andrew Strauss’s side would have been far more competitive and clued up in terms of dealing with the mystery spin of Saeed Ajmal.
As gentuine plus points go I think you have to look at the bowling department first and foremost. Whatever the pitch, Strauss can be confident he can pick an attack, from a group of seven, capable of taking 20 wickets.
Kevin Pietersen’s return to form, meanwhile, was a surprising and uplifting end to the tour. I must confess I thought he was drinking at the last chance saloon but he appears somewhere near back to his best and England instantly become an entirely different proposition with an in-form Pietersen to call upon.
Andy Lloyd is a former England Test cricketer who made 17,211 first-class career runs.
ENGLAND | TOUR OF SRI LANKA
SQUAD
Andrew Strauss (capt), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Samit Patel, Matt Prior, Steven Davies, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Steven Finn, James Tredwell, Monty Panesar
SCHEDULE
March 15 v Sri Lanka Board XI
March 20 v Sri Lanka Development XI
March 26 v Sri Lanka, Galle
April 3 v Sri Lanka, Colombo