Eoin Morgan: England's new skipper must bat higher up, says Bob Willis
Sky Sports pundit is not convinced by Alex Hales or England's bowlers
Monday 29 December 2014 12:43, UK
Eoin Morgan’s first act as England captain should be to push himself back up the ODI order, says Bob Willis.
Morgan was the regular incumbent at No 5 prior to the recent tour of Sri Lanka but dropped below Ravi Bopara during the 5-2 series loss Angelo Mathews’ side.
The Middlesex man, who has been chosen to succeed the dropped Alastair Cook as skipper, has struggled with the bat in 2014, averaging 25.45 in his 23 ODIs, a worse record than the outgoing captain, who averages 27.52 from 20 games.
But Willis believes the 28-year-old is suffering from batting so low down and wants that issue rectified before the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in February and March.
“I think Morgan should bat higher than he does, even if that’s only at five, as he is a very important cog in England’s one-day wheel,” said Willis after the batsman's confirmation as captain.
“It is a lot more difficult batting in the lower middle order than at the top where you can pace yourself through the whole innings if necessary.
“Players who bat lower down are often giving their wicket away looking to score at 10 or a dozen runs an over, so it is a difficult scenario and not fair to look at their averages, while it’s certainly not fair to compare Morgan with Cook.”
Intelligent
Alex Hales, meanwhile, seems in pole position to seize Cook’s opening-bat berth alongside Moeen Ali for the impending Tri-Series with Australia and India and then the World Cup when the tournament commences on February 13.
But Willis is not convinced that the big-hitting Nottinghamshire star is canny enough to flourish in ODIs and would instead prefer Ian Bell or Gary Ballance to earn a start.
Broad is a hothead and I don’t know whether his temperament is suited to ODIs.
The former England seamer is also concerned about England’s bowling options ahead of this winter’s 50-over showdowns, despite admitting that James Anderson will bolster that department.
“I am not as convinced about Hales as others as I don’t think he’s an intelligent enough cricketer to go in, open the batting and score for England regularly in 50-over cricket,” said Willis.
“I wouldn’t mind seeing Bell at the top of the order as I think he is a quality player.
"But Ballance is a very talented cricketer who has done well in the devil’s position of No 3 in the Test game and who is someone I think could adapt his game well to the one-day arena.
“Anderson will make a huge difference with the new ball, meanwhile, and not be fazed by people attacking him, but Stuart Broad is a hothead and I don’t know whether his temperament is suited to ODIs.
“However, his all-round talent is above that of Chris Woakes and Chris Jordan, who I would leave out of the starting XI in place of Steven Finn and James Tredwell.”
England’s World Cup squad: Morgan (c), Ali, Anderson, Ballance, Bell, Bopara, Broad, Buttler, Finn, Hales, Jordan, Root, Taylor, Tredwell, Woakes.
