Eoin Morgan Calls for Joe Root and Ben Stokes’ Return Ahead of Champions Trophy
Former England captain Eoin Morgan advocates for the recall of star players Joe Root and Ben Stokes to the white-ball squad ahead of next year’s Champions Trophy in Pakistan. Both players last participated in ODIs during the 2023 World Cup in India, where England faced an early exit after failing to defend their title, which they won under Morgan’s leadership in 2019.
Neither Root nor Stokes will feature in the upcoming three-match series against the West Indies, but England has hinted that they could still be considered for selection. Stokes was unavailable for England’s recent 3-2 series defeat to Australia due to injury, while Root was rested to provide a break between Test series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. England also missed key players like Mark Wood and Jos Buttler due to injury, with Harry Brook stepping in as captain in Buttler’s absence.
During the launch of the International Masters League in Mumbai, Morgan expressed his support for the younger players currently in the team. “At the moment, I’m happy to back the younger players,” he stated. He praised the performance of the Australian team across formats, noting that England’s lineup was significantly weakened in recent matches. He highlighted Harry Brook’s impressive hundred in Durham as a template for the team’s future approach.
With only six ODIs remaining before the Champions Trophy, including three in the Caribbean and three in India in early February, Morgan believes the West Indies series presents an opportunity for younger players to prove themselves. However, he emphasized the importance of reintegrating experienced players like Stokes and Root when Brendon McCullum takes over as white-ball coach in January.
“Ben Stokes has mentioned that he hasn’t received a call yet from Baz regarding his potential return,” Morgan noted. “If the call comes, he would love to play. In my view, they need to assemble the best team to compete in a major world tournament, and for me, Stokes and Root are key players in that lineup.”
Morgan concluded by encouraging the younger players participating in the upcoming series to seize the moment, as their chances could diminish with the return of established stars.
