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Morgan: There are no regrets

Captain wants to lead England at 2019 World Cup despite poor 2015

Captain Eoin Morgan yesterday insisted that he is leaving the World Cup with “no regrets” despite England’s failure at the group stage.

England won just two of their six games at the tournament and only avoided their worst-ever World Cup with a rain-affected nine-wicket success over Afghanistan in Sydney yesterday.

“There are no regrets,” Morgan said.

“Absolutely not. We’ve given it everything and certainly I have.”

England and Wales Cricket Board managing director Paul Downton has already confirmed a “major review” will be launched into the failings at the tournament.

That had led to speculation some senior players could have played their last one-day international but Morgan does not think there should be a clear-out as preparations begin for the 2019 World Cup, which will be held in England.

“No absolutely not,” he added.

“We haven’t got guys coming towards the end of their careers. I don’t see a reason to.

“I think we have the right calibre of squad, guys on the outside need to be banging down the door.

“It’s an easy thing to sit here while we are not doing well and say somebody outside the squad is better.

“We considered everybody when selecting the squad. I still believe we had the right group of players here.”

Coach Peter Moores’s position has come under increased scrutiny after England were blown away by the bigger nations before their tournament was ended by ninth-ranked Bangladesh on Monday.

Their only successes came against associate nations Scotland and Afghanistan, with the latter playing at their first-ever World Cup.

Morgan nonetheless wants to remain as captain, although admitted that decision is now out of his hands with the ECB to rake over the performances.

“I think there is going to be a review over the next couple of weeks,” he said.

“I can’t determine whether I’ll still be captain. The hunger is still there to do it.

“I’ve learned a lot throughout this tournament particularly when things haven’t gone so well. 

“You learn a lot about yourself and about the team.

“Things like that moving forward are crucial.”

England will fly home next week where the recriminations have already begun and Morgan feels any finger-pointing should be directed at the players rather than the coach.

“I certainly think it’s not fair (to blame Moores),” he said.

“All the responsibility should fall on the players. It’s our responsibility to perform, particularly when we’ve performed so badly.

“If there were little things where we couldn’t get over the line and games where we competed and little parts of our game weren’t right you could look elsewhere.

“It’s important that we realise where the responsibility lies.”

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