Morgan eager to return to Test fray

Batsman Eoin Morgan is confident a dearth of first-class competition won't negatively affect his bid to reclaim a berth in the England Test team.
Batsman Eoin Morgan is confident a dearth of first-class competition won't negatively affect his bid to reclaim a berth in the England Test team.
Morgan, who scored 20 and 39 not out in Middlesex's six-wicket win over Durham in a competitive County Championship Division One clash at Lord's, hasn't played Test cricket in almost 18 months.
He has, however, enjoyed a decent run of form in the ODI and Twenty20 International unit – and contributed to the reasonable success of the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2013 Indian Premier League.
While the left-handed Morgan was chastised by national selector Geoff Miller for playing in the IPL instead of the the County Championship earlier this year, he is eager to regain favour in the Test ranks regardless.
"I have always been one to say the colour of the ball never really changes anything. It's about the form you are in, your mindset and how well you are playing. I have proved in the past I have come back from the IPL having not played many games, worked hard on my game and gone back into the Test team," he told <i>BBC London 94.9</i>.
"It doesn't really particularly bother me. If you feel comfortable within your own game and you are playing well, it shouldn't really matter. You ask yourself questions, as everybody does.
"I have come through some challenges over the last 12 months that have maybe changed a few things. But you go back to the basics you have been doing since you are 10 or 11 years old. It's never boring and I have one of the best jobs in the world and thoroughly enjoy what I am doing. I am loving cricket at the moment."
Former captain Nasser Hussain, meanwhile, has insisted the under-fire Jonny Bairstow be chosen for the remainder of the Ashes.
While the in-form Ian Bell has scored two centuries and middle-order talisman Kevin Pietersen and opener Joe Root one each, the right-handed Bairstow has managed just 161 runs in five innings.
The talented James Taylor and uncapped Gary Ballance, meanwhile, are on the periphery of selection – after consistently impressing at county level. Neither have been named in the squad for the fourth Test, though, affording Bairstow another opportunity to set himself apart.
"As I've said before, I believe Bairstow has a technical issue but the good thing about him is that he hits boundaries. It's almost as if he wants to get as many runs as possible before the bowlers get him," Hussain wrote in the <i>Daily Mail</i>.
Latest
-
News
Tim Paine: India deserves winners, outplayed Australia
Australia captain Tim Paine has conceded that his side were outplayed in key moments of the series and that India were deserved winners.
-
News
Rishabh Pant reflects on ‘dream series’ after India stun Australia at the Gabba
India’s Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant inspired a record-breaking victory at the Gabba.
-
News
India move to the top of ICC rankings
After beating Australia by three wickets in the fourth Test on Tuesday, India moved to the number spot on the ICC World Test Championship.
-
News
Rishabh Pant unbeaten 89 steers India to series win over Australia
India pulled off a record run chase at the Gabba to inflict Australia’s first defeat there since 1988.
-
News
Joe Root shares victory call with fan who waited 10 months for team to arrive
England’s Test captain spoke with Rob Lewis, who has been in Sri Lanka since March, from a distance.
-
News
5 of the best England wins on the sub-continent
Joe Root’s side were convincing winners in the first Test in Sri Lanka.
-
News
Sarah Taylor: Cricket had to fade away but I’m happy
Taylor has not played the game since retiring from England duty in September 2019.
-
News
Mickey Arthur takes hope from Sri Lanka fight after ‘unacceptable’ first innings
Sri Lanka posted 359 in the second innings to take the edge of defeat by England.
-
News
Joe Root looks ahead after England seal Galle success
Jonny Bairstow and Dan Lawrence calmed the nerves to secure a seven-wicket win in Sri Lanka.
-
News
England claims seven-wicket win in Sri Lanka
The fourth-wicket pair calmly collected the remaining runs.