England cricketer Eoin Morgan has taken the reins as one-day captain from Alastair Cook. AFP PHOTO / LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI
England cricketer Eoin Morgan has taken the reins as one-day captain from Alastair Cook. AFP PHOTO / LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI
England cricketer Eoin Morgan has taken the reins as one-day captain from Alastair Cook. AFP PHOTO / LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI
England cricketer Eoin Morgan has taken the reins as one-day captain from Alastair Cook. AFP PHOTO / LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI

New ODI captain Eoin Morgan says England can pull a surprise at World Cup


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Deposed captain Alastair Cook was “gutted” to learn he had been dropped from England’s World Cup squad.

In Cook’s absence, England will be led by Eoin Morgan during the tri-series against Australia and India and in the global 50-overs tournament.

The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed the switch on Saturday after news of the change at the top first emerged on Friday evening.

Cook, 29, has paid the price for his and his team’s poor one-day international form over the past year.

The opener has made just one ODI half-century in his past 22 innings and has led his country to five successive series defeats, most recently losing 5-2 against Sri Lanka this month.

His fate was decided by national selector James Whitaker and colleagues Peter Moores, Angus Fraser and Mick Newell.

“I am gutted to be left out of the World Cup squad, and it is likely to take me a while to get over the disappointment,” Cook said.

“That said, I wish Peter, Eoin and the lads all the best for the World Cup.”

Cook will not feature in international cricket until April when England tour the West Indies, and Paul Downton, England Cricket’s managing director, reaffirmed Cook would remain Test captain.

“Alastair remains an integral part of England cricket and continues to have a vital role in developing our emerging Test side,” he said.

Morgan, 28, has also been in a trough of form with the bat, with just one half-century in his past 19 innings.

But England have decided nonetheless he is the new captain who represents their best hope of winning the World Cup for the first time.

“It is a huge honour to captain England and I am delighted to be leading the one-day side,” Morgan said.

“I firmly believe that with the players currently involved in the one-day set-up we have the makings of a very good one-day side, a young side that can surprise people at the World Cup.”

Explaining the selection panel’s decision, Whitaker said yesterday: “Having reviewed the recent series against Sri Lanka we came to the conclusion that there was no place for Alastair Cook among our strongest 15 one-day players and therefore recommended Eoin Morgan be appointed one-day captain.”

The 15-man squad was announced on Saturday and Gary Ballance, Stuart Broad and James Anderson were the three additions to the line-up that struggled in Sri Lanka, with Cook, Ben Stokes and Harry Gurney the three players to miss out.

England ODI squad Eoin Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, Alex Hales, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Joe Root, Ravi Bopara, James Taylor, Jos Buttler, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Steven Finn, Chris Jordan, James Tredwell, Chris Woakes.

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