ICC Champions Trophy: Eoin Morgan targets England's tournament win
'If we don't win a tournament it will be a huge disappointment'
Sunday 7 May 2017 12:37, UK
Eoin Morgan says that failing to win a tournament during his time as England white-ball captain would be a 'huge disappointment'.
England are favourites with the bookmakers to win the ICC Champions Trophy - which they host from June 1 - after a remarkable 18 months in the one-day format under Morgan's leadership following a disastrous 2015 World Cup.
Joining new Test skipper Joe Root in speaking to two former England captains in Sky Sports' Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton, Morgan says he won't view his spell in charge as a success unless the side win silverware.
You can watch the interview in full during the second ODI between England and Ireland on Sunday - live on Sky Sports 2 from 10.30am - or download as a podcast.
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Michael Atherton: The one-day team since 2015 seems to have been transformed. How much of that is down to Eoin's leadership?
Joe Root: There is a whole host of factors, but he has definitely been a massive part of our success over the last couple of years. More than anything he has created an environment where we aren't overly dependent on just one guy. He is a calming influence under pressure, which has rubbed off on a lot of the guys. Plus, in that team coming out of the last World Cup there were a lot of new faces and inexperience - that's when you need your senior players to set the tone and lead from the front. Eoin's a perfect example, not just in terms of what he gives on the field but how he carries himself off it as well.
Nasser Hussain: Is that calming influence a bluff? [Eoin] You never seem stressed but are you inwardly?
Eoin Morgan: Early on in my career I was quite hot-headed, and made a lot of really bad decisions. That has now almost turned me the other way. It wasn't something that ever worked for me. I've always liked to stay in the present - I feel that's when I've been at my best and made my best decisions. I relate it to my batting: if you're taking guard, you want to be as level as you can be. If you allow yourself to move with the ebb and flow of the game, it can be very draining. Body language can mean a lot, so being quite calm and clear about what you're trying to do is very important.
NA: When Eoin took over the one-day side it was clear drastic changes were necessary. [Joe] Are the changes you need to make as the new Test captain as drastic or a bit more subtle?
JR: If you look at the balance of our side and the make-up of it, it's relatively settled. Obviously, there are one or two key areas we'll probably have to look at over the next few months, but I'd like to think the make-up of the squad will be relatively similar. We've got a core group of players who have now played about 30 Tests and are in a prime position to take their game to the next level.
MA: [Eoin] You've played with Joe, though not necessarily under him: what kind of captain do you think he will be?
EM: He is a perfect combination: very cool and calm-headed and yet is also so passionate about the game. To have that balance is amazing because normally the more passionate the player, the more they can tip over the edge. Nasser - you were very passionate when you played and led a side, so must be able to relate to that. Going too far one way can potentially impact your decision making. But when I see Joe, he is very calm, and he commands a huge amount of respect in the changing room. He is very impressive.
MA: [Eoin] In terms of leading from the front, I'd like to go back to the Bangladesh tour - we were both quite critical of your decision not to go. Why didn't you?
EM: It was very simple. I felt that touring Bangladesh, with its security risk and the level of protection we needed, didn't allow me to go out and perform at my best as an international cricketer. Before I'd even stepped on the plane, I felt I wasn't able to go and do my job, so if I had of gone I would have been doing the side a disservice.
MA: Some might say that the terror threat currently in London is higher. What's the difference?
EM: It's a very good question. Although, I don't travel around London with 15 army cars, two helicopters, three snipers and an ambulance.
MA: Is there a great sense of confidence and expectation going into the Champions Trophy this summer?
JR: Definitely. It has been talked up a lot, obviously due to our one-day performances over the last couple of years. We have been progressing nicely. That counts for nothing though when the tournament starts - it's all well and good having a good side on paper, but you need to deliver under pressure. That's our main focus, that when we are under pressure in a key moment of a game, we put all of that hard work into practice when it matters.
NH: Joe makes a good point about delivering under pressure. Is it a different kind of pressure in a tournament? One bad game and you could be out. Do you need to have a different mindset?
EM: For me, you approach it with the same mindset. For the first year of our development as a side, we focused on playing more positive cricket than we have ever done before. In doing that, we've established our game is good enough to see us go and win a major tournament. I've played in three or four now, and when someone got 350-360 against us, we didn't have the game to go and chase that down. It was far beyond our belief. Going into this tournament, we've caught up with the world's best in producing performances that can actually beat them. We've reinforced that message throughout the last 18 months.
NH: [Eoin] You've been an incredibly successful England one-day captain already, changing the culture. But if you never win a world ICC tournament, are you still a success?
EM: No, what happens next is so important. We've done a lot of the hard work, seen the heights we can go to. We've seen the ability the squad has, so now it's just about getting the most out of them. If we don't win a tournament it will be a huge disappointment.
