Morgan gets vote to face Sri Lanka
MIDDLESEX batsman Eoin Morgan will replace the retired Paul Collingwood in England’s Test side to face Sri Lanka on Thursday.
The century Morgan scored against the same opponents for the Lions last week convinced the selectors he was the man to inherit the Durham all-rounder’s spot at No6.
Ravi Bopara, who shunned the Indian Premier League in favour of piling up the runs in the County Championship for Essex, was expected to win the race to appear in this week’s first Test at Cardiff.
But after his superb 193 against the tourists Morgan (right), who made his Test debut last summer standing in for the injured Ian Bell, has been handed the opportunity to cement his place in the five-day set-up.
National selector Geoff Miller said: “Ravi has been getting a lot of runs for Essex, but the controlled innings that Eoin played just gave him the nod.
“That innings showed us what he is capable of . It shows his strength of character. I’ve had a conversation with Ravi. He knows where he stands and what our position is – and he’s still very much part of our picture.”
Fast bowler Steven Finn retains his place in a 12-man squad having been dropped from the last three Tests of the Ashes series.