Captain Eoin Morgan talks up England’s T20 World Cup bid on Australian soil

Despite missing out on the title this year, captain Eoin Morgan has talked up England’s chances of winning the 2022 Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia this October.

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Eoin Morgan believes Australian conditions will bolster England’s chances at the T20 World Cup this year.

Back in November, Morgan’s men failed in their bid to become the first nation to hold both white-ball World Cups simultaneously when the heroics of Jimmy Neesham saw them beaten by New Zealand at the semi-final stage.

It was Australia who went on to land the title – and their first T20 world crown – in the United Arab Emirates but England remain the top-ranked T20 side in the world.

And despite the recent Ashes debacle down under in red-ball cricket, Morgan believes the quicker pitches will allow England’s batsman to thrive.

“Given Australia won (the T20 World Cup) they would go in favourites,” Morgan conceded.

“I’d like to think we’d be joint second, if we continue on a reasonable run of form between now and then, probably with India and Pakistan.

“We know Australia’s different, we know our guys play really well in Australia. It makes us feel a little bit more at ease than planning for conditions that we might not go in as one of the favourites.

“It makes us feel a little bit comfortable, we know what works in Australia.”

England’s next T20 World Cup cycle starts with a series against the West Indies – where all five matches will be held at Barbados’ Kensington Oval – with the opener on Saturday.

With Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan and Ben Stokes all absentees in Bridgetown because of their exertions in Australia, there are opportunities for those who have been on the periphery of squads in recent years.

Liam Livingstone will miss out because of an illness but Sam Billings is in contention, despite his 11th hour call-up for the final Ashes Test in Hobart.

George Garton could make his international bow after being one of a number of this 17-strong largely inexperienced England squad to cut short stints in the Big Bash.

When asked if playing in the Bash might represent better preparation given the venue of the T20 World Cup, Morgan replied: “This takes guys out of their comfort zone a lot more.

“Unless they play in finals or games that go to the wire in the Big Bash, [then] I would agree with you but not many have been close games.”

Paul Collingwood, who captained England to their first global trophy at the same ground in the 2010 T20 World Cup, is overseeing the tour.