England white-ball captain Eoin Morgan retires from International cricket
Eoin Morgan has announced his retirement from international cricket after seven-and-a-half years in charge of the England white-ball side. Morgan leaves as the first and only England captain to lead them to a 50-over World Cup triumph.
He clarified that he will continue playing domestic cricket in England, including leading the London Spirit in the Hundred this summer. After enjoying a brilliant run in 2019 and 2020, form has deserted Morgan, who hasn't scored a hundred in ODI cricket in over two years.
Morgan has played a total of 248 games in ODI cricket for both England and Ireland, scoring 7701 runs at an average of 39.3. 6957 of those runs have come in an England shirt, which makes him the all-time leading run-scorer in the 50-over format for England. He played 115 T20I's in his 16-year career, where he scored 2458 runs. Along with representing England in 340 internationals, he has 16 test caps, the last of which came in 2012.
"After careful deliberation and consideration, I am here to announce my retirement from international cricket with immediate effect," Morgan said in an ECB release. "To call time on what has been without doubt the most enjoyable and rewarding chapter of my career hasn't been an easy decision, but I believe now is the right time to do so, both for me, personally, and for both England white-ball sides I have led to this point.
Morgan was first capped by Ireland in 2006 at the tender age of 16 and scored 99 on his debut against Scotland. After leading Ireland to the 2011 World Cup, Morgan switched allegiances to England in 2009.
"From my start in the international arena with Ireland to winning the World Cup in 2019, I have never lost sight of how integral family support is to any international sportsperson. To my mum and dad, my wife, Tara, and our family around the world, thank you for your unconditional support throughout the good and more challenging times in my career. Without you all, this incredible journey would not have been possible.
Morgan captained England in 126 ODI's and 72 T20I's, with his last appearance coming against the Netherlands in June 2022. His retirement hasn't come as a shock as the Irishman has been plagued by injuries for quite some time and missed the 3rd ODI against the Netherlands due to a groin injury.
Morgan said that he knew his time was up when he couldn't score a run in two games against the Dutch. "I engaged a lot with ex-players as to when they stopped and how it came about, and how the transition worked. And each person to a man said there's a time and a place where it hits you," Morgan told Sky Sports News. "Or the other common answer was, you know, you wake up and you know, and that moment came to me in Amsterdam.
Morgan took over from Alaister Cook in 2015 and England suffered a humiliating first-round exit at the World Cup under him. He played a crucial part in England's white-ball reset in the 2015 English summer, playing an attacking brand of cricket. He had a good relationship with coach Trevor Bayliss and between 2016 and the 2019 World Cup, England lost just two ODI series.
His four years of hard work culminated in England finally lifting the 2019 World Cup on home soil. Morgan won the 2010 T20 World Cup as a player after falling short in the 2016 and 2021 editions as captain. He stated that England's white-ball game is better than ever and that he is extremely proud to have been an instrumental part of it.
"I engaged a lot with ex-players as to when they stopped and how it came about, and how the transition worked. And each person to a man said there's a time and a place where it hits you," Morgan told Sky Sports News. "Or the other common answer was, you know, you wake up and you know, and that moment came to me in Amsterdam.