Morgan finds his form to impress at right time

While Morgan, with 156 not out, proved his adaptability after a relatively lean stint at the Indian Premier League, and Patel weighed in with an unbeaten 101, Ravi Bopara could muster only a fitful 17 out of the Lions’ 394-4 on day one of four at Derby.

Yet the Essex batsman is still thought to be the front-runner to fill England’s No 6 slot in the first npower Test at Cardiff, which begins on May 26.

Bopara spent the vast majority of yesterday’s 90 overs in a spectator role as James Taylor (76) rose to a new challenge and then Morgan and Patel took over in an unbroken double-century stand.

In the presence of national selector Geoff Miller and England coach Andy Flower, Taylor was first to show his prowess with a gritty contribution after being pushed up from the middle-order position he inhabits for Leicestershire to open the innings.

The Lions, put in on a bouncy pitch under only fair-weather cloud at the start of this four-day fixture, were indebted to Taylor, who withstood a lively new-ball attack and set the tone for a day which would showcase England’s back-up batting resources.

Taylor soon knew he was in for a battle when Nuwan Pradeep struck him a painful blow in the box in only the third over.

Thisara Perera then made the first breakthrough in the next by yorking Jimmy Adams.

Bopara had two close calls, first when Mahela Jayawardene – who arrived only on Wednesday from the IPL – put down a routine catch at second slip off Perera.

Then, when on eight, Bopara stood his ground and was given not out by umpire Peter Hartley when Pradeep was convinced he had him caught behind on the back-foot defence.

But first-change Dilhara Fernando soon got one to climb on the No 3, and there was no escape this time as he fenced a catch behind.

James Hildreth joined Taylor in a half-century stand either side of lunch.

Taylor played only a smattering of memorable shots, including two driven sixes from Suraj Randiv’s off-spin, but precious few poor ones either.

Hildreth went more readily to extremes before the slingy Pradeep got one through his defences to knock back off stump.

A safe edge wide of the slips put Morgan in credit first ball, after which he was impressively unhurried on his return to the longer format.

Taylor had hit seven fours to go with his two sixes from 137 balls when Fernando found extra bounce and convinced umpire Tim Robinson, if not the batsman, that he must go caught behind.

The makeshift opener had done much necessary hard work, and three figures would have been fair reward.

Instead, it was to be Morgan and Patel who cashed in.

Left-hander Morgan, previously without a first-class century since his maiden Test hundred at Trent Bridge last summer, was chanceless on his way to reaching three figures from 128 balls.

There were 12 mostly well-timed fours, one mis-hit six hooked over his and the wicketkeeper’s head off Fernando and another struck meatily over long-on off Tharanga Paranavitana’s part-time off-spin.

Patel, back in favour after his well-chronicled difficulties achieving a level of fitness to satisfy England, could yet be on the fringes of Test selection as the extra batsman – thanks to his very useful second string as a left-arm spinner.

He too did his prospects no harm with 14 fours in his 131-ball hundred.

There were blemishes on 66 and then 72 when the usually reliable Jayawardene dropped his second slip catch of the day and Kumar Sangakkara was also culpable in the deep, both former captains spilling chances off new incumbent Tillakaratne Dilshan’s off-spin.

But Morgan and Patel simply became more assured and adventurous, and displayed a mastery in increasingly benign conditions of a touring attack they may not be required to tame again in the immediate future.

Afterwards, Morgan made light of the difficulty of switching formats and continents after his recent stint in the IPL.

“I don’t think it’s a big challenge – you play every ball as you see it,” he said.

“The experience in the IPL has been invaluable, playing under a lot of pressure and in high-pressure situations.

“I think I learned a lot out there. I brushed shoulders with legends of the game and learned a lot from them.”

He accepts there is nothing more he can do to convince England’s selectors, who were out in force to watch yesterday, that he should get the nod for the SWALEC Stadium contest ahead of Bopara.

But Morgan senses yesterday’s innings could still tip the balance.

“The selectors were here. Whoever plays well will probably play (in the first Test).

“I’ve only practised a couple of days since I got back. To get some time in the middle has been really good.

“I’m quite fresh. I’ve had a lot of cricket under my belt so I feel quite comfortable at the crease, but it’s nice to get some runs and spend time in the middle.”