1st ODI: Morgan to lead England against Australia today

Batsman exhorts Pietersen to play leading role for new-look team.

LONDON: England batsman Eoin Morgan says Kevin Pietersen will have an important role to play in the One-Day International series against Australia, which starts at Headingley today.

With Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann all rested after a successful Ashes campaign, Morgan will lead some unfamiliar faces into battle against the tourists.

Given the lack of experience in the England line-up, Morgan has urged 33-year-old Pietersen to lead the way.

“Kevin offers a lot as a senior player and as a batsman,” Morgan told a press conference.

“As a senior player he leads by example with the confidence with which he goes about his business. People rub off on that and that’s crucial.”

Despite the absences of Bell and regular captain Cook, Morgan said that Pietersen was not guaranteed to open the batting against the Australians.

“It’s certainly an option. Kevin’s opened the batting for England before and done well,” he said.

“He also bats in the middle-order as a very explosive player. He’s very versatile so we’ll be looking at both options.”

Morgan said that whoever was selected to open the batting would be ‘filling big shoes’.

“Cook and Bell have been very successful now for a couple of years and they’ve been a huge part of our success as a one-day team,” said the Irishman.

“With the two new balls in one-day cricket it makes that role more difficult now, so it’s an important role and one that we recognise needs filling.”

Sussex bowler Chris Jordan could make his England debut today and Morgan says working alongside budding debutants has been the highlight of his role so far.

“Those games (as captain) in particular I’ve really enjoyed. The thing I’ve most enjoyed about them has been handing out caps to debutants.

“It’s fantastic to see guys being rewarded for a lot of hard work over a number of years and being rewarded by pulling the England shirt on and that makes me smile every day.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 6^th, 2013.

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