Morgan: Once Irish, now an English recruit

When Eoin Morgan turns out for England against Bangladesh on Friday, he will be the second player to have played a World Cup for two countries. Morgan had represented Ireland in the last World Cup. Nilankur Das reports.

When Eoin Morgan turns out for England against Bangladesh on Friday, he will be the second player to have played a World Cup for two countries. Morgan had represented Ireland in the last World Cup. Irishman Ed Joyce, who played for England in the 2007 World Cup, is in Irish colours this time.

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Kepler Wessels for Australia and South Africa and Anderson Cummins for the West Indies and Canada are the other players to have represented different countries in World Cups.

Morgan, who was set to miss out because of a finger injury, is here as a replacement for Kevin Pietersen. “I have played the World Cup for Ireland, but all the time I said I wanted to play for England, which had always been the bigger picture. So yes, it’s a dream come true,” said Morgan on Wednesday.

Pietersen’s loss means wicketkeeper Matt Prior would open with skipper Andrew Strauss. Morgan will come at No. 5.

It means Ravi Bopara, who has contributed with the bat, will have to drop a spot. “I have been successful at No. 5 in the past. So it’s my favourite position, I find coming in the middle overs, being a left-hander and playing spin okay, it’s one of the better parts of my game,” he said.

But with hardly any time to get used to the conditions and just physical training during the recovery phase at Middlesex, Morgan accepted it would be difficult to get into the groove right away.

“The conditions are always challenging here. There is different bounce, there is turn in the pitches. But this is my fourth time to Bangladesh.

“The only thing I will have to adjust is the heat. I hope I can produce some past sort of performances that I have here,” said the 24-year-old.