Eoin Morgan has earned the right to step down as England captain after World Cup win, says Andrew Strauss
Morgan has transformed one-day cricket in England and will consider his future as captain
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Your support makes all the difference.Eoin Morgan has “earned the right” to have free rein on his decision about continuing as England captain after delivering England’s first men’s World Cup, according to Andrew Strauss.
Morgan and Strauss were at the forefront of developing 50-over cricket in England following the pitiful showing in the 2015 World Cup.
The Dublin-born batsman was named England captain just two months before the start of the 2015 tournament in Australia and New Zealand and was determined to revolutionise the game after England’s group stage exit.
Morgan delivered on his plan to win the World Cup as England wrapped up a stunning win at Lord’s after 52 overs of tense cricket against New Zealand.
The batsman turns 33 later this year and Strauss says Morgan must be certain he has the hunger and determination to continue as captain, starting with preparing for the T20 World Cup in 2020, and added he has earned the right to pass on the responsibility.
“He has earned the right to do it,” Strauss said. “The question for him is what he wants to achieve because he has climbed Everest.
“I certainly hope that what he is doing right now, unless he is clear he wants to carry on, is just taking a bit of time to reflect where he is at.
“To stay on as captain he needs to be driven and motivated to push people on as he has done over the last four years and if he has the bit between his teeth then we’ve seen just what a fantastic leader he is.
“The rest of the team will follow him until the last day he is on a cricket field and he needs to decide when that is.”
The former England international added that current vice-captain Jos Buttler is the leading candidate to step up should Morgan decide to retire the captaincy.
“I think Jos is an outstanding cricketer and outstanding person,” Strauss said. “He reads the game very well so if there is a vacancy he is going to be a very strong candidate.”
Strauss’ involvement in this World Cup win must not be forgotten after was forced to step down from his role as Director of Cricket at the ECB due to his wife’s illness.
After 2015, Strauss introduced central white-ball contracts and allowed Morgan to create a fearless culture in the team that promoted swashbuckling cricket that propelled England to the number one ODI side in the world and delivered the World Cup.
Now, he’s urging this England team to develop across all formats, something his side failed to build-on when they reached number one Test status in 2011.
“We won Ashes series and got to No1 in the world and thought that was the end in itself,” Strauss said. “We have to find a way of making this a launchpad for something bigger and better and that is a huge challenge.
“We had a method, style and a group of players we felt we could carry on and stay at the top for a long time but we went straight back down again.
“Nothing ever stays the same. Players change, players get injured, others teams get better. If for one moment you think you have cracked it, you are already on the way down again.”
England’s second Test in the upcoming Ashes series at Lord’s will be turned red on the second day in aid of the Ruth Strauss Foundation. Andrew Strauss set up the foundation after his wife died of lung cancer in December 2018 as an initiative to provide grants for research into rare forms of the disease and to provide support for patients and their families.
Lord’s will be turned red on Thursday 15 August, with players’ numbers, hats, and even the stumps changed to Ruth’s favourite colour. Both sides will wear special kits with the logo and supporters are encouraged to arrive wearing red.
Andrew Strauss is hoping to emulate the success of the McGrath foundation, set up by Australian legendary fast bowler Glenn McGrath in 2005 following the passing of his wife Jane. The foundation turns the annual Sydney Test completely pink for a day.
“The one huge opportunity I have as an ex-cricketer is to use that platform to raise awareness for what we’re trying to do,” said the 42-year-old. “You think about the incredible work the McGrath foundation have done and is it possible to replicate that over here?
“I’ve played all my cricket at Lord’s and it is an Ashes year it just felt like if the MCC are willing to make this happen then we should try and put this together.
“What has blown me away since the day Ruth died has been the incredible wave of support I’ve had from the cricket family and this is an embodiment of that.”
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