Former England captain Eoin Morgan said that Harry Brook’s captaincy stint has been a ‘baptism of fire’ so far, having lost both ODIs against Australia so far as well. Morgan also added that England have had positives despite their losses in the five-match series, but the manner of defeats will hurt them as well. Having scored 315 in the first ODI in Nottingham, England allowed Australia to get to the target in a canter as Travis Head starred with an unbeaten 154. Moreover, England failed to chase down 271 in the second ODI in Leeds, losing by 68 runs after a middle-order collapse as well.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Morgan said, “I think the positives from Trent Bridge would have been the batting department. Both Ben Duckett and Will Jacks, the partnership they formed in getting them up to a good platform, and a forward-facing commanding score against a strong Australia side. Today, it is probably with the ball. They weren’t as consistent as Australia would have been if they bowled first but that is just experience, consistency, skill that is produced by two different sides going through two different cycles. It is a baptism of fire for Brook at the moment. It is pretty large defeats against a very, very good side.”
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“If you look at the timeline of how they look at players, an ODI side will have a new look for say an India tour or Champions Trophy. There will be a Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Joe Root. So, for these younger, inexperienced players you want to really stamp your authority on this series and in the up-and-coming West Indies series because there may not be chances in the new year and into the Champions Trophy,” Eoin Morgan said again.
Meanwhile, Eoin Morgan also added that the hosts lost too many wickets on a flat wicket at Headingley while chasing 271.
“We talk about the impact of the experience, quality that Australia bolstered their attack with today and that was evident in the run chase. Chasing 270 on the really flat wicket here should be reasonably easy. The run-rate was never a concern but continuously losing wickets and not really finding the mantra Brook has talked about,” Eoin Morgan concluded.
