England’s only World Cup-winning captain, Eoin Morgan, stated that winning the 2023 Cricket World Cup in India would be a more substantial achievement for England than their maiden triumph in 2019.
While Morgan led England to their first-ever 50-over World Cup glory in 2019, he believes that the challenges and circumstances surrounding Jos Buttler’s squad make a successful title defense in India an even more remarkable feat.
Morgan pointed out the stark differences in the challenges faced by his team in 2019 compared to the hurdles Jos Buttler’s side has had to overcome in preparation for the 2023 World Cup. Morgan noted that between 2015 and 2019, England’s sole focus was on winning the ODI World Cup, which was being hosted in their home country. This allowed them to prioritize the availability of their best players and establish clear role clarity for each position within the team.
“The challenges for me going into 2019 were completely different to what Jos has gone through coming into this tournament. Between 2015 and 2019, our sole focus was trying to win the ODI World Cup at home. There was a clear emphasis on having your best players available in the year leading up and trying to get absolute role clarity in every position possible. Jos has not had that,” Morgan wrote in his column for Sky Sports.
However, the landscape of English cricket has shifted significantly since then, with Test cricket now taking precedence. Morgan acknowledged that Buttler has not had the luxury of consistently having his best team available for T20s and ODIs due to the demands of Test cricket, particularly the Ashes series. This shift in focus has presented unique challenges for Buttler and his team in their quest to retain the World Cup.
“There has been a complete change in mindset in English cricket where Test cricket is now the out-and-out priority. Only on very few occasions in T20s and ODIs has Jos had his best side available. This has been an Ashes year, a huge year for Ben Stokes and his red-ball team. Quietly behind the scenes Buttler and head coach Matthew Mott have been planning for this World Cup but, if you asked them, they would probably say it has been unbelievably challenging.
Morgan highlighted the unpredictability of squad dynamics leading up to the tournament. Injuries and the late omission of key players like Jason Roy, along with the inclusion of newer faces like Harry Brook, have added an element of uncertainty to the team’s composition. Moreover, players like Mark Wood have struggled with fitness and have not had the opportunity to play competitive matches for an extended period.
“They would have wanted everyone in peak fitness before leaving for India but Mark Wood has not bowled in a competitive game since the last Ashes Test in July. The side has chopped and changed quite a lot while there were question marks over the squad with the late omission of Jason Roy and the inclusion of Harry Brook.
One of the most significant factors Morgan emphasized is the challenge of playing in India, a cricketing powerhouse known for its formidable record at home. The pressure of performing in a foreign land, particularly one where the home team is exceptionally strong, adds an extra layer of complexity to the tournament.
“All things considered, it would without a doubt be a bigger achievement for England to win this World Cup than when we won in 2019. The nature of the schedule has not allowed them to have the type of preparation they would like and being away from home, especially in India where India are so strong, is tough. Winning here would carry a lot more weight than winning at home. I am still extremely hopeful that England can defend the title, though,” Morgan added.
