Andrew Strauss insists Eoin Morgan must continue as England’s one-day captain if he has the hunger to drive a period of sustained success.
Morgan presided over the nation’s maiden World Cup triumph following a dramatic victory over New Zealand at Lord’s on Sunday.
The 32-year-old, however, is considering his future as skipper knowing he is unlikely to be playing when the next global showpiece arrives in 2023.
With the T20 World Cup taking place next year, former England captain Strauss believes Morgan’s influential role in shaping a golden era of one-day cricket entitles him to choose the timing of his departure.
“Eoin has earned the right to do it,” said Strauss. “The question for him is what he wants to achieve here because he has climbed Everest.
“That is the question for all the players because we have made mistakes in the past.
“We’ve won Ashes series and got to number one in the world and thought that was the end in itself. We have to find a way of making this a launchpad for something bigger.
“I certainly hope that what Eoin is doing right now – unless he is clear he wants to carry on – is just taking a bit of time to reflect where he is at.
“To stay on as captain he needs to be driven and motivated to push people on, as he has done over the last four years. If he has the bit between his teeth then we’ve seen just what a fantastic leader he is.
“The rest of the team will follow him until the last day he is on a cricket field, and he needs to decide when that is.”
Acting in the capacity of director of England cricket, it was Strauss’ decision to retain Morgan as captain in the wake of a dismal World Cup group exit in 2015.
In reward, Morgan has overseen a radical transformation, with England now a swashbuckling side that has swept all before them.
Lord’s will be turning red for day two of the second Ashes Test on August 15 in aid of the Ruth Strauss Foundation, the charity set up by Strauss after his wife died of lung cancer in December 2018.
Provided by Press Association Sport
