Morgan hopes IPL sacrifice means Test reward

Middlesex and England batsman Eoin Morgan feels his decision to focus on county cricket rather than put his hand up for the IPL could reap rewards come the time to select the England Test side for their next series.
Middlesex and England batsman Eoin Morgan feels his decision to focus on county cricket rather than put his hand up for the IPL could reap rewards come the time to select the England Test side for their next series.
While Morgan has not often played Test cricket recently, he feels that the current gaps in the side could work in his favour if he scores enough runs domestically over the next six weeks in the County Championship.
Morgan told Sky Sports: "There are some great opportunities knocking around with the transition that English cricket is going through at the moment and it seems like this is a good opportunity to come back and enjoy my cricket at the start of the year.
"There are five games in six weeks and to play continuous Championship cricket without any Twenty20 or one day cricket in between is great. There's great continuity in it and if I get some runs in that period and put myself in some form them maybe I'm in with a shout."
When asked where he saw himself playing, he said: "If I were to get back in, certainly my role will be in the middle order. It's getting in and allowing myself to express myself, and ultimately score a weight of runs."
The batsman went on to say that despite being seen as a limited-overs specialist, and conceded that he didn't have the best long format record, he still had the desire to score more tons in Test whites.
He said: "I probably haven't had that much success in four-day or even Test cricket. But again, when given the chance I absolutely love my time in the Test side.
"I scored two centuries, which are the highlights of my career to date. That hunger is still there to play Test cricket, hence why I've come back early."
The subject of the T20 captaincy came up, given he is often the skipper if Stuart Broad is unavailable, and he was asked if he saw himself in charge of the 'solar red'-clad side in future.
He said: "It's certainly a role that I think I can play. I've enjoyed the captaincy when I've done it, I've done a few one day internationals and some T20s, and now this year I'm the T20 and one-day captain at Middlesex.
"I'm really looking forward to leading the side this year and hopefully bring some silverware to the Home of Cricket (Lord's)."
Latest
-
News
Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer return to spearhead England’s tour of India
Jos Buttler will return home after the first Test as England seek to keep players fresh, while Ollie Pope will return when fit.
-
News
World Test Championship: Which countries are in the running for Lord’s final
The ICC World Test Championship final is set to be held at Lord’s in June, completing a two-year cycle of the inaugural tournament.
-
News
Klaasen named skipper of Proteas T20 squad for Pakistan series
South Africa named a much-changed squad for the T20I series that follows the two Tests in Pakistan.
-
News
Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer return to spearhead England’s tour of India
The star all-rounder and key pace bowler were both rested from the current tour of Sri Lanka.
-
News
James Anderson replaces Stuart Broad as England shuffle seam attack in Sri Lanka
The most prolific seamer in history will swap places with Broad for the second Test.
-
News
Joe Root backs Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley to adjust to Asian conditions
Sibley and Crawley contributed four single-figure scores in the opening Test for a total of 25 runs.
-
News
England fast bowler Olly Stone ready to resume Test ambitions in Sri Lanka
The Warwickshire quick is ready to prove himself again after 18 hard months since his debut.
-
News
Angelo Mathews: Sri Lanka batsmen ‘can learn a lot’ from Joe Root
Mathews hailed Root’s ‘magnificent innings’ in the first Test.
-
News
Dawid Malan happy to stay put after Trent Rockets’ show of faith
The England batsman has earned an improved deal in The Hundred.
-
News
England coach Chris Silverwood grateful for gift of the Gabba
India’s famous win over Australia grabbed the England squad’s attention in Galle.