'You wake up and you know' – Morgan felt the time was right for international retirement

By Sports Desk June 28, 2022

Eoin Morgan says he knew the time was right to step away from international cricket after the England white-ball captain confirmed his international retirement.

Morgan announced he would be quitting the side on Tuesday, leaving England needing to appoint a new skipper less than four months before the start of the T20 World Cup in Australia.

He skippered England to their first Cricket World Cup title on home soil in 2019, but has struggled for form as of late, with a pair of ducks in their three-match series against the Netherlands earlier this month.

The Dublin-born batter took the armband in late 2014, but admitted the time is now for him to leave his role, with his struggles against the Dutch the final push needed for him to make the call.

"I've been open and honest about when the time would come, over the last three years," Morgan told Sky Sports. "I've engaged a lot with ex-players about when they stopped, how it came about.

"Each person said there's a time and a place when it hits you, or that you wake up and you know, and that moment came for me in Amsterdam.

"I think it's a culmination of a lot of things that over the course of my international career, which has been a long time, I've just come to the end.

"I'm glad I was in a sound enough space to understand that feeling and be aware of what it meant, and also what it means both for the England white-ball side and me in my personal life.

"The day it hit me was quite a sad day, reaching the end of such a special journey. But since that day I've been incredibly proud, content with the decision and excited for English cricket going forward.

Morgan had previously spoken to new England Test coach Brendon McCullum about retirement before, and explained that advice reinforced his decision.

"Baz is one of my close mates," he added. "I've spoke to him about retirement for a long time, and particularly around his, and the transition for him, and he said 'you will know, there'll be a feeling that hits you, just recognise it when it comes'."

Asked if he would like to stay involved in the England set-up, the 35-year-old said: "I think at the moment the best thing is for me to come out of it, let the new captain find his feet, build a relationship with the new coach and ultimately drive towards the next World Cup.

"They come thick and fast, and the potential the team has is unbelievable. I'm excited to sit back and watch, I'm lucky to be a part of such a special time, but I think what's to come might be even more special."

Jos Buttler is tipped to succeed Morgan as captain, with new white-ball coach Matthew Mott previously appointed in May.

Related items

  • Inglis hails 'hard to stop' Stoinis after ruthless knock Inglis hails 'hard to stop' Stoinis after ruthless knock

    Josh Inglis lauded "hard to stop" Marcus Stoinis as Australia signed off their T20I series against Pakistan in style, claiming a whitewash.

    The hosts raced to a seven-wicket victory with almost nine overs remaining in Monday's third match.

    After Australia's bowlers had limited Pakistan to just 117 runs, Stoinis ensured they signed off their final white-ball assignment in style, with his unbeaten 61 doing the damage.

    Only twice has he bettered that knock in T20Is – versus New Zealand in 2021 (78) and against Oman at the World Cup earlier this year (67*). 

    "It's been a great week. We've had a lot of fun as a group," Inglis said. "It's been really nice.

    "When Stoinis is going like that, he is really hard to stop. One of those sixes was probably the biggest I've ever seen!"

    Stoinis, who was named player of the match, added: "Nice to score some runs on a beautiful wicket but credit to the bowlers who kept the total down.

    "Yeah, I actually told [Haris] Rauf that this is the first time any of us got the better of him! No, he's a brilliant bowler, bowled well this series."

    During their white-ball tour, Pakistan won the ODI series, their first time doing so in Australia in 22 years, but got whitewashed in the T20Is.

    Despite the heavy loss, captain Agha Salman chose to focus on the positive effect the experience will have on their young players.

    "I think in the middle overs, we didn't capitalise on the start," he said. "But lots of positives.

    "The way Usman [Khan] batted, the way Jahandad [Khan] bowled. These youngsters will come good.

    "It's obviously a big achievement winning the ODI series, but we could have done much better in the T20Is."

  • Salt century gives England winning start to West Indies T20 series Salt century gives England winning start to West Indies T20 series

    Phil Salt hit a superb century as England drew first blood in their T20 series against West Indies, with a commanding eight-wicket victory at the Kensington Oval.

    Salt's unbeaten 103 off 54 balls was the highlight for the tourists, who successfully chased down their target of 183 with 19 balls to spare.

    The West Indies endured a difficult start and were reduced to 18-3 and later 117-8, with Saqib Mahmood (4-34) and Adil Rashid (3-32) doing the damage.

    However, the hosts managed 65 runs in the last 5.2 overs to finish at 182-8, with Gukadesh Motie knocking 33 off 14 balls along the way.

    Salt kick-started England's chase with 50 off just 25 deliveries taking them to 73-1 after six overs, with Will Jacks (17) dismissed with the final ball of the powerplay.

    Jos Buttler's first match after four months out lasted just three minutes, as the skipper was caught by Motie for a golden duck.

    However, it proved a false dawn for West Indies, with Salt and Jacob Bethall (58 from 36 balls) safely steering England to victory.

    Data Debrief: Salt completes hat-trick of hundreds as Bethell makes historic half-century

    England put their disappointing ODI series behind them, making history with the highest T20 chase at the Kensington Oval.

    Salt was the hero with his third T20I century, all of which have come against West Indies in the past 12 months.

    Bethell also made history on Saturday. Aged 21 years and 17 days, he become the youngest England player to score a 50 in a T20I.

  • Asalanka leads Sri Lanka to ODI series win over West Indies Asalanka leads Sri Lanka to ODI series win over West Indies

    Sri Lanka wrapped up the ODI series against the West Indies with a five-wicket victory in Pallekele.

    The hosts successfully chased down their opponents' total of 189, giving them an unassailable 2-0 in the three-match series.

    Sri Lanka controlled the early powerplay - Asitha Fernando (3-35) and Maheesh Theekshana (3-25) took two wickets apiece to leave the tourists at 31-4 in the ninth over.

    Wanindu Hasaranga (4-40) then claimed three of his four wickets as Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh and Alzarri Joseph were all dismissed in the space of 14 balls.

    However, Sherfane Rutherford (80 off 82 balls) and Gudakesh Motie (50 not out) steadied the ship to take the Windies from 58-8 to 189.

    Although Joseph claimed Avishka Fernando (9) in the fourth over, Nishan Madushka and Sadeera Samarawickrama both chipped in with contributions of 38 to get the hosts to 112-4.

    Skipper Charith Asalanka (62 not out) led the charge thereon, while Kamindu Mendis (11) comfortably got them over the line with 34 balls remaining.

    Data Debrief: Rutherford-Motie historic stand proves academic for tourists

    West Indies were looking to level the series, but their hopes were not aided by Sri Lanka's impressive bowling.

    Rutherford and Motie did their best. Their partnership brought 119 runs, which is their nation's highest ninth-wicket stand in ODI history, breaking the previous record of 85 between Yannic Cariah and Alzarri Joseph.

    However, it ultimately proved in vain as the hosts secured the series with a game to spare.

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.