England captain Eoin Morgan is not sure of his best XI going into the T20I series against hosts South Africa, starting with the first T20I in Newlands, Cape Town. The problem is not of shortage but of plenty, as after the covid-19 break, this is the first time that the full England squad is at the display for his choosing.
“No, I don’t know my best XI. There are probably seven or eight guys who are strong candidates (for the remaining places). With a full-strength squad here there is so much to discuss around team selection,” Morgan said on the eve of the first T20I.
“We are playing what we think is our best XI to beat South Africa here and now. But also think, looking ahead to the World Cup, that we will need the option of two spinners,” added the 34-year-old captain.
However, one thing was made certain that Sam Curran would get the preference over fellow all-rounder Moeen Ali in the playing XI, mostly because the conditions in South Africa are seamer-friendly.
Talking about Curran, who had a brilliant IPL season, with an otherwise dull Chennai Super Kings, Morgan said, “Sam has certainly grown in confidence, probably even more so with the bat than the ball. He was certainly thrown in all sorts of circumstances and had all sorts of challenges but came out the other side glowing, which is great.” “If we have the luxury of two all-rounders in the side in Ben and Sam, that’s huge,” added the Dublin born, who plays for Middlesex in the England domestic competition.
Morgan also said that Jofra Archer might get a game or two but wouldn’t play often considering the workload and the idea of keeping him fresh before the World Cup. . “He’s one of the best in the world, he is coming off the back of being named MVP at the IPL,” said Morgan. But I don’t think we will have him that often in between now and the World Cup,” he said.
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