Morgan: England will not sledge about ball-tampering
England captain Eoin Morgan insists his team will not sledge Australia about the ball-tampering incident in the five-match ODI series even though it could help the home side.
Australia, and the sport, was rocked after Cameron Bancroft was caught applying an sandpaper to the ball in a Test against South Africa in March.
The fall out of the incident has been severe with Steve Smith, David Warner and Bancroft banned from the international cricket for a significant period.
Coach Darren Lehmann reigned following the tour while Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland announced last week that he will be stepping down after working on the board for 20 years.
Morgan said that England will approach the ODI series, which starts at the Oval on Wednesday, “hard, positively and aggressively” but that the ball-tampering incident will be off limits.
This is Australia’s first series since the scandal and they have come to the UK with a new captain, Tim Paine, and a new coach, Justin Langer.
ALSO READ: Paine excited to start new Australia era
Asked if the ball-tampering will be spoken about to the Aussies players on the field, Morgan said: “No. If you look at it in that, it probably could be ammunition. It will be service as usual.
“We play our cricket pretty hard, positively, aggressively, so we’ll continue to do that.
“I’m expecting a tough series. Every time we’ve played against Australia, the side we’ve come up against has played hard, tough cricket, so we’ll expect that as well.”
Paine and Langer have both spoken about how they want to change the image of Australian cricket on the tour to England.
Morgan says people will only be able to judge after the first game of the series.
The England skipper added on Tuesday: “To be honest I don’t know, I’ll only be able to tell you after tomorrow.
“We can speculate as much as we like, but the proof is in the actions. So we’ll only find out tomorrow. I think it’s going to be a good series.”
Latest
-
NewsTammy Beaumont hails ‘Yorkshire Terrier’ Katherine Brunt after England’s T20 win
Beaumont struck 62 while Brunt conceded eight runs off her full allocation in Derby.
-
NewsTammy Beaumont stars as England Women claim 47-run victory over the West Indies
The match represented a welcome restart to the women’s international calendar more than six months on from the T20 World Cup in Australia.
-
NewsSam Curran impresses CSK coach Stephen Fleming
Sam Curran produced a gem of a batting cameo and claimed the prize scalp of Quinton de Kock in his first match for CSK.
-
News‘This will be special’ – Paul Walter relishing Essex’s Lord’s date with Somerset
After starting the truncated season out of the red-ball side, the 26-year-old has been crucial in Essex’s run to the Bob Willis Trophy final.
-
NewsBishnoi: I just kept sticking to the basics
Kings XI Punjab rookie Ravi Bishnoi showed impressive control on his Indian Premier League debut.
-
NewsBrett Lee: Bumrah can fill Malinga void
Former Australia speed merchant Brett Lee has expressed his admiration for Mumbai Indians star Jasprit Bumrah.
-
NewsRoyals skipper Steve Smith available after completing concussion protocols
Steve Smith had been in doubt for the opening match against the Chennai Super Kings after suffering a concussion during a net in England.
-
NewsHe can’t cheat this time: Tom Curran looks forward to renewing sibling rivalry
They are brothers in arms for England and Surrey but Tom and Sam Curran find themselves on opposite teams in the IPL.
-
NewsWicket milestones, Crawley’s heroics and collapses – England’s summer of cricket
After two-and-a-half months, 18 matches and six series across all formats the ride is over for the men’s team
-
NewsLeicestershire, Northamptonshire and Sussex complete Blast quarter-final line-up
The final three places were confirmed, with the ties to take place on October 1.