Tom Collomosse’s cricket column: Now captain Morgan must add runs to his leadership skills for England

Time to shine: Eoin Morgan has proved a fine skipper but his scores have suffered
INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP/Getty Images
Tom Collomosse1 June 2016

When Eoin Morgan speaks in public, you know exactly what to expect from him. When he has a bat in his hands, it is anyone’s guess how he will perform.

England’s limited-overs captain appeared today at a promotional event for next year’s Champions Trophy and his demeanour was typical: calm, confident and positive.

It reflects his style of leadership — a reason for England’s improved white-ball cricket in recent times. When he bats, though, you never quite know which Morgan will turn up.

If England are to win the Champions Trophy on home soil next summer, which would be their first global 50-over title, they need Morgan to be the inspirational batsman who often held the innings together during his early years.

Three of Morgan’s eight one-day hundreds came in 2010, his first full year in the team. One, in particular, stands out: the unbeaten 107, made in a venomous on-field atmosphere, in a series-decider against Pakistan at Southampton.

Morgan has played well at times since then, notably last summer, when his average after 10 matches against World Cup-winners Australia and finalists New Zealand was close to 67. Consider, however, his statistics in the games before and after those.

In 50-over cricket against Pakistan and South Africa last autumn and winter, Morgan averaged a little more than 24. In the 2015 World Cup, his average was just 18.

Morgan was so good, so consistent at first that he was rightly compared with Australia’s Michael Bevan, one of the outstanding one-day players of the modern era. Bevan’s average was nearly 54 from his 232 ODIs. Morgan’s is now 37, from 160 matches for Ireland and England — respectable, but not remarkable.

So why the ups and downs? Some within the game feel Morgan lacks the solid technical foundations to get him out of trouble when he is struggling. Because he plays relatively little red-ball cricket, the theory goes, his batting technique is not as reliable as that of someone like, say, Joe Root.

Morgan’s last first-class match was nearly a year ago, for Middlesex against Somerset. He has played only 16 Tests — from 2010-12 — and is highly unlikely to add to that total. Indeed, it is a legitimate question to ask how many more times Morgan will face a red ball in his career.

Take a look at the current top 10 of the ICC batting ratings for 50-over cricket. Only Quinton de Kock, the South Africa wicketkeeper-batsman, has appeared in fewer Tests but, at 23, he is six years younger than Morgan.

You can play as many scoops, switch hits and ramp shots as you like. You still have to be able to judge line and length and keep out good deliveries. When his rhythm and timing are off-key, Morgan can look extremely vulnerable at the crease.

England vs Sri Lanka: Second Test in pictures

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So far, the fluctuations have not affected Morgan’s leadership. He could not buy a run at the World Twenty20, yet still his team came within an over of winning the trophy. Yet poor form would be far harder to mask in a 50-over tournament.

Those who have worked closely with Morgan speak of his natural leadership qualities. He is generally popular with his players, who respond to his relaxed confidence and even temperament, as well as his sense of fun away from the game.

Others who know Morgan say that, unlike many cricketers, he does not suffer greatly from self-doubt. He is said to have such belief in his own talent that low scores do not worry him unduly.

It is why, when he has the kind of run that would damage other players, he can suddenly reel off a series of super knocks as though there had never been a problem. It is why, even if Morgan has a poor summer and winter, he can still find his touch in the Champions Trophy.

Yet if he does not deliver in 12 months, it is hard to see England prevailing.

Few sides can afford to carry their captain and England certainly can’t.

MEAKER PACE BOOSTS SURREY

Surrey have had little to smile about this summer, but Stuart Meaker’s return is a reason to be cheerful.

The pace bowler last played for England four years ago and has made a total of four limited-overs appearances on tours of India.

Since then, cruel luck with injuries has hampered his progress, but the 27-year-old has taken 11 wickets in his side’s last two Division One matches.

At his best, Meaker is a ferocious proposition. He generates pace through the air, has a sharp bouncer and a dangerous slower ball.

Despite his difficulties with injury, his first-class statistics are impressive: 226 wickets in 65 matches, at a little more than 28 apiece.

He should not think about England just yet. Meaker’s mind must be on staying healthy and helping Surrey turn around their summer.

If he can do that, the selectors will certainly take note.

TEST DIVISIONS ARE A TURN-OFF

A popular idea to revive interest in Test cricket around the world is to create two divisions, with promotion and relegation.

Supporters of the idea believe this would give the longest form of the game greater context and meaning than it does currently, with the main Test-playing nations desperate to stay among the elite.

Yet what if Sri Lanka or West Indies were relegated? Would it focus the minds of their players and bring back supporters? Or would it mean interest dropping off even more in those countries, with no prospect of top-level Test series until they were promoted?

The worry with this proposal is that it would make the worldwide audience for Test cricket shrink even more. Because if Sri Lankan cricket fans won’t turn up for Tests against England or Australia, why would they do so if Ireland or Zimbabwe were the opponents?

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