T20 World Cup 2024: "What is going on in the England Team?"- Eoin Morgan levels serious questions

The only 50-over World Cup-winning English captain Eoin Morgan wants "absolute clarity" from Jos Buttler and co. in their bid to defend the T20 WC title. 

England will be heading over to the USA and West Indies as the reigning T20 champions, 2 years after winning their 2nd T20 WC silverware in Australia. And ahead of their 2nd white-ball defense in less than a year's time, the Three Lions will be playing a preparatory T20I series against Pakistan. 

Although the 1st T20I in Headingley was washed off yesterday, England and Pakistan will fight it out in the following 3 matches. Edgbaston, the Sophia Gardens, and the Oval will be hosting the remaining matches on the 25th, 28th, and 30th of May. Jos Buttler's side will then fly over to the West Indies for their group stages of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. 

Eoin Morgan says England have learned from the CWC 2023 embarrassment  

While speaking to Sky Sports yesterday after the 1st T20I got washed out in Headingley, Eoin Morgan reflected on England's chances at the T20 WC. Morgan was asked about his expectations and what he wants to see from Jos Buttler's side when they square off against other teams in the group stages first before the knockouts take place. 

"I think they've learnt from that terrible experience in India"

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— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) May 22, 2024

Eoin Morgan started off by highlighting the kind of World Cup defense they had during the 2023 50-over WC in India. The team, led by Jos Buttler, had won just 3 games in the entire league stages which was thoroughly dominated by the hosts. At one point in the tournament, it started to seem as if England wouldn't even finish in the Champions Trophy qualification spots. 

However, Buttler's men had just managed to squeeze through in those 3 matches and finished at the 7th spot in the league table. the main reason behind their terrible performance, according to Eoin Morgan, was the lack of clarity in their team combination. The poor performance at the ODI WC last year is something Morgan believes has helped the team prepare this time around. 

The after-effect of their failed title defense was seen during England's tour of the West Indies in December 2023 for a 5-match series. Eoin Morgan noted that the English contingent had looked much more secure in their batting line-up.  

"Yeah, a couple of changes really and I think they have learned as a team from that terrible experience in India and taken it into their preparation. And what makes me think that they have learned is they played in the series against the West Indies - 5 match series in December where they said they were gonna make some change, particularly to their batting order." 

"Phil Salt coming back in the top of the order, Will Jacks coming in at 3 and they've kept with that same line-up when it comes to the World Cup selection." - Morgan said via Sky Sports. 

Morgan suggests Jos Buttler to have absolute clarity 

Eoin Morgan then suggested Jos Buttler and the England team go to the T20 World Cup with absolute clarity, something that was lacking in CWC 2023. The 2019 CWC winning captain had observed that Jos Buttler's side visited India without proper clarity in their team as some players had received central contracts while some didn't. 

Therefore, Morgan wants absolute clarity and confidence built around the team before they take the flight to Barbados where they play their first group game. 

"So I wanna see absolute clarity throughout the whole course of this preparation at the World Cup because if you remember you rewind the clock before the ODI World Cup. There wasn't that clarity. When we got to India the side, some guys had contracts, some guys didn't. I want absolute clarity and confidence built before you get on that plane." - Eoin Morgan concluded.