Skip to content

Natwest T20 Blast: Eoin Morgan eager to gain leadership experience with Middlesex

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Eoin Morgan says preparations for Middlesex's double-header against Essex and Sussex have gone well.

Eoin Morgan has revealed that he would like to become England’s Twenty20 captain on a permanent basis following the one-off match against Sri Lanka.

The Middlesex batsman will lead England in their solitary Twenty20 clash with the tourists, while Alastair Cook retains leadership duties in the one-day and Test arenas.

Morgan has assumed captaincy of Middlesex’s one-day and Twenty20 sides, but admits leading England is an opportunity he would relish.

Live T20 Blast Cricket

When quizzed over the possibility of becoming England’s full-time Twenty20 captain, Morgan told Sky Sports: “I think it is [something I would like to do].

“It all starts at Middlesex, I’ve taken over the one-day and T20 captaincy which is something I’m really proud to be doing.

“It’s going to be a challenge but the strength and depth within the squad we have bodes well and hopefully we’ll be in the chase for silverware at the end of the season.”

More from Natwest T20 Blast

Preparation

Middlesex will make history on Saturday as they host the first ever T20 Blast double-header, featuring Essex and Sussex, at Lord’s before taking on Northamptonshire in a four-day County Championship match the following day, but Morgan insists they are thoroughly prepared.

“Preparations are going really well and it’s an exciting time of the summer, the sun’s out and it’s T20 time, a time of the year everybody enjoys,” he claimed.

I’m astonished with the stuff that has come out,” he revealed. All the education is there for the players, you’re taught from a very young age to stay clear.
Eoin Morgan on match-fixing

“It’s going to be really tough but these are the sort of challenges for a modern day cricketer, but if you want to play at the top in all three forms you’re going to have to overcome these barriers.

“It’s one of those challenges that the guys are really looking forward to as opposed to not looking forward to it.”

The Panthers have recruited Australian Twenty20 international all-rounder Dan Christian for this season’s T20 Blast and Morgan admits it is a great boost to their squad.

“It’s great to have Dan involved,” he said. “He’s played a lot of domestic cricket around the world and he’s an all-round really good cricketer.

“As for the squad, we’re all fit and healthy and pretty much raring to go for Saturday.”

Phenomenal

Morgan is not short of Twenty20 experience himself having represented the Kolkata Knight Riders and Sydney Thunder in the game’s shortest format and is excited by the new domestic structure.

“Having played in the Big Bash and IPL, they do have block periods set purely for T20 cricket and you see the results that they get, it really is phenomenal,” he added.

“Derbies down in Melbourne and Sydney they get 40,000 people watching, we have a new format this year so it will be interesting to see how that goes.”

News broke this week that the International Cricket Council were to launch fresh investigations into match-fixing in cricket and Morgan admits he was stunned by the revelations.

“I’m astonished with the stuff that has come out,” he revealed. “All the education is there for the players, you’re taught from a very young age to stay clear.

“It’s a no-go area and everybody knows that we don’t want that to be a part of the game.”

Around Sky