Eoin Morgan says he is confident that he is up to the task of replacing the injured Kevin Pietersen, despite not having played since the penultimate game of the one-day series against Australia on February 2.
Last month, he was replaced in England’s World Cup squad himself when he was told a broken finger required surgery. But Morgan now finds himself back in the reckoning following Pietersen’s return home due to a hernia problem.
“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.”
He added: “It is a huge spectacle in everybody’s career, so I am keeping my fingers crossed that I can put in some performances.
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“I’m delighted. Getting a call from (coach) Andy (Flower) a couple of days ago was a great feeling. Obviously I’ve been part of the squad in the past. But to come back in and be part of a World Cup squad is very exciting.”
The 24-year-old admits he may have learned a lesson, having failed at first to realise the severity of the injury, he played two more ODIs before the break was discovered.
“At the time I didn’t feel it very much and thought I would be fit enough to bat and field. But as it went on the injury felt worse, and it turned out I had broken the finger.
“I didn’t see any need to stop. It was just when it got progressively worse and I wasn’t able to grip the bat.”
Since Morgan’s recall, England have suffered further injury woe and have applied to replace Stuart Broad with Chris Tremlett.
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“To lose two world-class players in Kevin and Stuart is going to be a big loss,” Morgan said. “But in the past - as we have seen, maybe in the Ashes series in recent times - guys have come in and filled other guys’ places, done very well and we have gone on to do exceptionally well.”