As England won their penultimate game of the Cricket World Cup on Wednesday, beating the Netherlands by 160 runs, former skipper Eoin Morgan labelled the team a sinking ship and called for urgent remedial action.
Morgan, who led the team to World Cup glory last time out, has been less than impressed as he watched the defending champions struggle through the tournament, managing just two wins from their eight games thus far.
Wednesday’s win, which was built around a brisk 108 from 84 balls from Ben Stokes, moved England up to seventh on the table, and was probably enough to ensure that they qualify for the Champions Trophy, but it has still been an underwhelming performance overall.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Morgan said: “At the moment, it’s a sinking ship and you need people to take responsibility.
“The message has to be clear and concise, and it has to be aggressive because naturally every player in the side, bar maybe Joe Root, has a better aggressive game than a defensive game.
“You don’t want to play against an England team that comes out all gun’s blazing,” he said.
Morgan said he was particularly astounded that the pre-match press conference ahead of Wednesday’s game against Netherlands had featured neither the captain Jos Buttler nor the coach Matthew Mott. Instead, it was left to assistant coach Carl Hopkinson to face the media.
“I was very surprised and shocked by it.
“Bear in mind the thought process that goes behind it, you sit in meetings as a leader, a captain or a head coach.
“You make those decisions on the side. When things are going wrong, you need absolute clarity and direction.
“You have to front up,” he said.
