Job well done

England’s World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan retires from international cricket

England’s World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan retired from international cricket with immediate effect on Tuesday, saying he recently woke up and knew now was the time to stand down.

He added that extending his England career would have made him feel “an imposter.”

He fittingly announced the big news at the historic venue of Lord’s, the same place where he led England to their first-ever World Cup triumph.

The Dublin-born, who will continue to play domestic cricket for Middlesex and the Hundred franchise London Spirit, began his international career with his native Ireland in 2006 but switched his allegiance to England three years later.

The 35-year-old batsman oversaw England’s transformation from a side that suffered a woeful first-round exit at the 2015 World Cup to one-day kings four years later.

The left-handed batter bows out as England’s all-time leading run-scorer in One-Day Internationals and T20Is with 6,957 and 2,458 runs, respectively.

His tally of 225 ODI appearances and 115 in T20Is is also the most for an English player.

However, the prolific explosive batter could only score two half-centuries in his last 28 international innings across the two white-ball formats and was twice out for nought during England’s recent ODI series away to the Netherlands.

He awoke in Amsterdam last Monday knowing his time as an England cricketer was up and missed the final match of the series with a groin injury.

Neither the thought of one last England appearance nor the prospect of staying on until the T20 World Cup in Australia later this year held any appeal for Morgan.

“It goes against everything I stand for, I just would have felt like an imposter,” he said when asked about an England farewell appearance. “I’m very happy with my decision. The day it hit me, it was quite a sad day, reaching the end of such a special journey but in many ways since that day I’ve been incredibly proud and content with the decision and excited for English cricket going forward.”

Not many players, especially captains are willing to step down or take retirement just months before a major global event; but the 35-year-old could not wait for that long.

“The World Cup is in October and the feeling that day, it felt a million miles away.”

Morgan has been planning for retirement and will now join Sky television to commentate on his former team-mates during England’s white-ball matches against India and South Africa next month.

In the meantime, he wants to make a clean break with the England set-up, giving new white-ball coach Matthew Mott and his successor a free hand.

Having said that, he could yet take up a future off-field role in cricket, with Morgan already studying for a post-graduate diploma in strategic leadership.

“I don’t spend a lot of time in the boardroom, so I don’t know how that would work, but I’m doing a course at the moment to allow me to sit on a board at some stage,” he said.

While replying to a question regarding what pushed him to take this difficult decision, he maintained he just woke up one day and realised that it was time.

“That moment came for me in Amsterdam,” Morgan said. “I’ve just come to the end. I’m glad I was in a sound enough space to understand that feeling and be well aware of what it meant.”

He is the only England player to have won both limited-overs World Cups, having helped Paul Collingwood’s side triumph in the 2010 T20 version in the Caribbean.

‘The best leader I’ve seen’ 

Rob Key, the managing director of England men’s cricket, said Morgan’s career had been about more than the World Cup success.

“As with all great players and leaders, he has changed the way the game has been played, and he has changed the way an entire generation and generations to come will play this form of the game,” said Key. “His legacy within the game will be felt for many years to come. He is, without question, the best leader I have seen. I wish him well in the next chapter of his career.”

Morgan said while the 2019 World Cup was a “performance highlight”, if he could relive one moment in his international career, it would be the start of England’s limited-overs revival following the 2015 edition.

“The journey since then has been absolutely incredible,” he added.

Morgan took inspiration for England’s white-ball revolution from former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum.

McCullum, now England’s Test coach, hit 77 from only 25 balls to inspire New Zealand’s thrashing of Morgan’s men at the 2015 World Cup.

“Baz (McCullum) is one of my close mates and I spoke to him,” said Morgan. “I’ve spoken to him about retirement for a long time. He said ‘you will know. It will be a feeling that comes and hits you.'”

McCullum, speaking after his inaugural campaign as England coach ended in a 3-0 win over Test world champions New Zealand, paid tribute to Morgan by saying: “The impact he has had on English cricket and world cricket has obviously been significant.

“World Cup winner, but the players he has brought through, superstars of the modern game.

“They might have got there anyway, but I think he got them there quicker because of the approach he took. He’s a tremendous leader, a fine human being.”

Game-changer

Morgan may be England’s all-time leading run-scorer in one-day and Twenty20 cricket, but the World Cup’s winner game-changing impact on the team was measured in more than just figures.

Though he might be remembered as England’s first World Cup-winning captain, that win was not just an outcome of an incredible performance in a tournament. Instead, that thrilling victory was the culmination of Morgan’s white-ball revolution as he oversaw a complete change in attitude towards the limited-over game in his adopted country.

Always his own man, the Dublin-born Morgan rose rapidly through the ranks of Ireland cricket, becoming known for his unorthodox shot-making.

But with Ireland not then a Test nation, he made no secret of his desire to qualify for England and made his debut for Middlesex a week after his 19th birthday.

The left-hander was equally decisive when he stood down from Test cricket after playing the last of 16 matches in the longest format in 2012 and realising there was no chance of a red-ball recall.

By concentrating on limited-overs internationals, he became England’s all-time leading scorer in ODI and T20 cricket.

He had the most number of appearances as an English player in ODIs and T20Is, but it was as a ground-breaking captain that Morgan had his greatest impact.

Appointed on the eve of the 2015 World Cup after the selectors dispensed with Alastair Cook, he led England to a miserable first-round exit sealed with a woeful defeat by Bangladesh.

Just under three months after being thrashed by New Zealand at the World Cup, England turned the tables on the Black Caps by smashing 408-9 in a 210-run win at Edgbaston.

Morgan, with the support of coach Trevor Bayliss — the Australian was drafted into the England set-up after the 2015 debacle — presided over 16 wins from 20 bilateral series during the four years between World Cups.

England in that time climbed to number one in the rankings, with the likes of Jos Buttler, Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes buying into Morgan’s policy of fearless attacking cricket.

He was also adept in the field, his sensitive captaincy allowed leg-spinner Adil Rashid to flourish.

The skipper also wisely had a calming word with Jofra Archer after the fast bowler sent down a wide at the start of a Super Over that ended with England beating New Zealand in the World Cup final.

In a nod to the Muslim faith of Rashid and England team-mate Moeen Ali, Morgan also acknowledged the team’s diversity after that match by saying “Allah was with us”.

Morgan also had a ruthless streak, as evident by the way big-hitting batsman Alex Hales remained in England exile since testing positive for recreational drugs in the build-up to the 2019 World Cup as a result of what the captain said was a “breakdown in trust”.

There were setbacks, notably a 2016 T20 World Cup final defeat by the West Indies, while his own form has declined during the past year.

Morgan’s legacy, however, remains secure, with former England captain Nasser Hussain telling Sky Sports: “Eoin has been the most influential white-ball cricketer England have ever had.

“He’s been our best white-ball captain, and he has been a fantastic player.

“And he gave us the best moment in English white-ball cricket that we’ve ever had, at Lord’s. A lot of it was down to the skipper.”

What they say

As the greatest white-ball batter of England hung his gloves, the cricket fraternity started paying him tributes on Twitter.

Pakistan’s former all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez dubbed the left-handed batter a game-changer for England’s white-ball cricket.

“Congratulations mate on a fantastic desirable career. To me you are a game changer for @ECB_cricket in white ball cricket as captain. Loads of respect for your services. Real entertainer @Eoin16 cricket world will miss u. Best wishes for future endeavours. Stay blessed,” he tweeted.

Moreover, Pakistan’s ODI and T20I vice-captain Shadab Khan wished him luck for the next chapter of life.

“Congratulations @Eoin16 on a fantastic international career. Best of luck with the next chapter of your life,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, the highest run-scorer in the history of international cricket, India’s Sachin Tendulkar congratulated Morgan on a wonderful career.

“Congratulations on a wonderful career, @Eoin16. You gave cricket fans several moments to cherish. Best wishes to you. May your 2nd innings be as successful as the first.”

England women’s team captain Heather Knight expressed her admiration for her male counterpart and said she loved watching him lead the team.

“Congratulations on a very fine career @Eoin16. I’ve loved watching how you lead, you’ve changed the game. Happy retirement!” she stated.

On the other hand, Morgan’s former Ireland teammate Niall’O Brien had all praises for the world cup-winning captain.

“What a career you have had. Changed the way people think and play the game not just in England but globally. Wishing you well in your next chapter,” he said.