Eoin Morgan admits Champions Trophy selection will be a nightmare after England dismantle West Indies in final one-day clash
England skipper Eoin Morgan admits that selection for this year’s Champions Trophy will prove a near-impossible conundrum after trouncing the West Indies in the final one-day clash in Barbados.
Returning opener Alex Hales and newly-appointed Test captain Joe Root both struck centuries as England racked up 328 before they dismissed the hosts for a paltry 142 to win by 186 runs.
That margin was England’s fifth-highest in history and resulted in their first one-day whitewash of the West Indies since 1991. It also provided a timely boost ahead of their Champions Trophy campaign on home soil in June.
Asked if he knew who would form the matchday squad for England’s opening Champions Trophy clash against Bangladesh on 1 June, Morgan said: “Eleven or 12, absolutely not. It’s a struggle to get [down] to 15.
“We’ve probably got 16 or 17 quality players that we can select from and we’re very lucky to be in that position. Selecting 15 for the Champions Trophy is going to be tough but it’s a great position to be in.”
Hales and Root shared a 192-run stand for the second wicket. Hales, who opted against travelling to Bangladesh last year amid security concerns and then injured his hand in India in January, notched his fifth one-day ton since November 2015.
Root also passed three figures after eight half-centuries in his last 11 innings as England moved to a position of strength against a limited West Indies outfit.
Only Jonathan Carter, with 46, offered any resistance with the bat for the hosts as Liam Plunkett and Chris Woakes claimed three wickets apiece.