Eoin Morgan will captain England ODI side in India says national selector James Whitaker
Eoin Morgan will return as captain of England in the One-Day International series when they tour India believes national selector James Whitaker. Morgan recently opted to stay out of the Bangladesh tour for security concerns. Jos Buttler will captain the side in his absence.
Whitaker though said he is disappointed that Morgan decided against the trip to Bangladesh where in July a terrorist attack claimed the lives of 22 people. But he also added the decision would not be held against Morgan when they will sit down to chose the team for India.
"Eoin has done exceptionally well as captain," Whitaker was quoted by Espncricinfo. "Over the last couple of years, he's established a really good leadership base. He's done a marvellous job.”
"It is slightly disappointing that he's turned the opportunity down (to travel to Bangladesh), but we expect him to be captain in India. At the same time, we'll review as we do after every series. Other people will come in and put pressure on those guys. And all I'll say is, I expect him to be the captain for the India tour."Whitaker also said Buttler’s appointment as skipper for the three One-Dayers in Bangladesh will be an “interim” one.
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"Eoin is very much captain of the England ODI team, I fully expect him to take up the reins when he is available,” he said.England have lost only in one ODI this summer that too an inconsequential tie versus Pakistan. They first won a series against Sri Lanka and then beat Pakistan and Morgan has generally been key to their more positive approach.
Whitaker also dropped a strong hint that all-rounder Ben Stokes might be picked as the vice-captain of England ODI team travelling to Bangladesh. "We have not yet nominated a vice-captain," Whitaker said. "But Ben Stokes is taking a leading role more and more in both forms of the game.”
"He is an astute reader of the game. And a very astute motivator of players, who are around him. But from official point of view, we haven't named one. Jos and Trevor will take a view, but Ben Stokes is a galvaniser of people and an astute reader of the game. He is taking a more leading role on that senior player group."
England meanwhile believes Alastair Cook will be able to make it for the first Test in Bangladesh despite his wish to travel back to England where his wife is supposed to give birth to their second child on October 10.
"He'll go out for a little bit of practice at the back-end of the one-day series, then come back home and then go out ready for the first Test," Whitaker told Sky Sports. "He's got a lot of experience, he'll figure it out. I'm sure he'll be ready for the first Test."