Morgan keeps his cool
England secured an ODI series victory against Bangladesh thanks to a perfectly timed and paced innings from Eoin Morgan. The talented Irishman became the first player to score ODI centuries for two countries having previously reached three figures for his native land against Canada. From his demeanour here, however, you would barely have noticed that he had achieved such a feat.
Instead of wild celebrations upon reaching his maiden ton in an England shirt – which would have been understandable – Morgan barely even raised his bat, refusing to remove his helmet in acknowledgement that there was a job that still needed doing. His first century for England would have counted for nothing had he not gone on to win the game.
Morgan’s composure was hugely impressive as he set about structuring an innings of substantial depth. Only stand-in captain Alistair Cook showed the concentration for the battle as those around the two men fell. Matt Prior hung around with Morgan but was unable to complete the task, becoming one of Abdur Razzak’s three victims for the evening. Prior will be quietly happy that he outperformed Craig Kieswetter, the latter facing only two balls.
Razzak, an orthodox slow left-arm bowler rather predictably snared Kevin Pietersen, too. Pietersen’s travails against slow left-arm bowling have been well documented but it is very difficult to look at him right now and see the same man who reverse slog-swept Murali into the Eric Hollies stand at Edgbaston or the same man who forced Shane Warne to show him the same sort of respect that the great leg-spinner had reserved for the likes of Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar in bowling around the wicket to him. Razzak is simply not of that ilk, yet made Pietersen look like a nervous beginner.
Some rash shots further down the order left the responsibility of winning the game squarely on Morgan’s shoulders and he handled the pressure with aplomb. As Luke Wright, Tim Bresnan and Graham Swann all perished to ugly swipes at the air, Morgan kept his head and, crucially, kept his team ahead.
The game was finished with a six, Morgan had 110 not out and was rightly mobbed by his grateful team mates afterwards. He has said recently that he is ‘nowhere near the test team’ but if he can continue to display such innings of undoubted class and temerity – the usual array of sweeps and paddles were on full display – then Test recognition cannot be too far away. For now, however, England must be grateful for this little gem from the Emerald Isle.
By Miles Reucroft
