Skipper insists all the pressure will be on Australia in World Cup opener
Sunday 1 February 2015 13:19, UK
Eoin Morgan says poor batting, not Mitchell Johnson, was the reason for England's 112-run defeat to Australia in the Carlton Mid ODI Tri-Series Final in Perth.
Johnson recorded figures of 3-27 at The WACA on Sunday in his first competitive bowl in over a month, as England were skittled out for 166, just under two weeks before they meet Australia again in their World Cup opener.
But Morgan – who was bowled by Johnson first ball – says his side were not unduly troubled by the left-armer and had themselves to blame for their loss.
"I think it probably could have been anybody bowling," said Morgan. "I don’t think he [Johnson] swung it. We put ourselves under pressure and I don't know why we performed like that.
"We chatted about the opposition very briefly as we've played against them so much in the past, but I don't think we were threatened that much.
"We were poor. We didn't help ourselves with some of the decisions we made and the shots we played. Our batting let us down."
England coach Peter Moores was equally frustrated by his team's batting effort, saying: "The lads were really up for the final but we didn’t bat well enough when we got the best of the pitch.
"A top score of 33 (from Ravi Bopara) just isn't good enough and we have to take that on the chin and look at the reasons why it happened.
"We didn't put any partnerships together and put any pressure on the Australia bowlers so we didn't really get into the position where we could have a go at their total."
Morgan, though, reckons England will now be under less scrutiny than Australia when the nations lock horns again at the MCG on Valentine’s Day.
And he says England will are looking forward to fine-tuning their World Cup preparations in warm-up matches in Sydney.
"I think the pressure builds on Australia from that perspective," he added. “They're a home side in their first game of the World Cup, playing against a dangerous side. We're going out all guns blazing, so there's no pressure from our point of view.
“We have made huge strides from where we were and huge credit goes to some guys' individual performances. We now play Pakistan and the West Indies and that will be a great opportunity to get some match time under our belt and also adapt to conditions."
