Morgan is sure he can deal with World Cup pressure

Eoin Morgan has upgraded from the Champions League to the World Cup, and from Manchester to Chittagong.

England’s replacement for Kevin Pietersen has also switched sports, of course, having given up on his plan to cheer on Manchester United against Marseille next week once he got the call to join his one-day international team-mates on the sub-continent.

Morgan is confident that, despite having played no cricket since his broken finger forced him out of the final 50-overs match of seven against Australia, he is ready to do his adopted country proud again.

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The Irishman has had a snakes-and-ladders experience over the past month, being replaced himself in England’s World Cup squad when the advice was that he would need surgery only for his finger to heal much more quickly than expected.

He found himself back in the reckoning when England needed a batsman to replace Kevin Pietersen, whose hernia problem became too much to bear.

England have since endured further injury disruption, and yesterday confirmed their application for Chris Tremlett as the like-for-like replacement after Stuart Broad suffered a side strain.

Morgan heard on Monday that he would be required. “I was going away to a Champions League match, but that (plan) has been cancelled,” he said. Instead, England want him back at his scintillating best in England’s middle order.

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Morgan is at ease with the expectation of filling Pietersen’s boots, and becoming England’s lynchpin again at No 5.

“It doesn’t really bother me at all,” he said. “I play the exact same role and try and execute my skills as much as I can.

“As long as England are winning I don’t care how much expectation is put on mine or anyone else’s shoulders.

“I know if I execute my plans, then what has happened in the past will continue.”

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The 24-year-old admits he failed to realise how serious his injury was when he first hurt himself in Adelaide.

He played two more ODIs, before it was discovered the finger was broken.

“When I came back, the first day I arrived in London I saw a specialist and his diagnosis was that I would need an operation, but he wanted to wait a week to see if it would progress and heal.

“After a week he changed his diagnosis, and from there it healed up quite nicely.”