England’s limited-overs skipper Eoin Morgan has on Sunday (June 27) hinted at the inclusion of the T20 specialist Tymal Mills to the national squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2021 later this year.
After whitewashing Sri Lanka in a three-match T20I series, Morgan has revealed that only “half a dozen guys nailed down” within the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 squad place so far and Mills has been on England’s radar for the showpiece event, given his fast pace, left-arm angle and record at the death despite not playing in international cricket since 2017 majorly because of the injuries.
The Sussex fast bowler made his T20I debut as a highly promising prospect back in 2016, but the 28-year could play only five T20Is, taking three wickets at an economy rate of 6.78. He is currently playing for Sussex in the T20 Vitality Blast this year and will be soon seen in action in The Hundred.
With lots of spots still up for grabs for the T20 World Cup 2021, Morgan said the doors are open to standout performers in domestic cricket, especially The Hundred, including the “outstanding” Mills, who is under the consideration and he will be keeping close tabs on the left-armer in the coming months.
The skipper also said there is still plenty of time left for the T20 World Cup and Mills – who is capable of regularly exceeding 90mph as well as being able to mix it up with subtle changes of pace – can force his way into their T20 World Cup 2021 plans as a death-bowling specialist through The Hundred.
Morgan said after England's 3-0 T20I series win over Sri Lanka: “I always say that guys can present their best case if they're playing good, competitive cricket. Looking at the teams or the squads in the Hundred, they're extremely strong, so you'd expect the standard and the pressure to be quite high throughout the tournament.”
He further noted, “If everybody was fit, I don't think there are many [spots] nailed down - there's probably half a dozen. There's a significant period of time [before the World Cup]. We're dealing with experienced guys within, say, the 17 or 18 that have been involved [and] there are guys playing in the Hundred like Tymal Mills who could easily present a case.”
Hailing Mills, Morgan pointed out, “He is an outstanding bowler and we've always been in communication with him, wanting him to get fit, play as much cricket as possible, and leave him alone until the World Cup comes.
Playing for Sussex - given the journey that he's been on - on a regular basis, is way better for him than trying to get fit for sporadic T20 series through the year. He's a good example, along with a few other guys, that could present a really strong case throughout the Hundred.”
Meanwhile, Jos Buttler missed the final two T20I matches because of a small tear in his right calf and it will force him to miss the upcoming ODI series, as well.
The injury has also put him in doubt for the white-ball series against Pakistan next month and Morgan insisted that England wants the wicketkeeper-batsman to be fit with a five-Test series against India, the T20 World Cup, and then Ashes tour of Australia in the line-up.
Morgan signed off by saying, “Certainly at the moment, it's not a priority that Jos is 100% fit for the white-ball stuff that we're coming through — given the cricket he has coming up with Tests, T20 World Cup, and a possible Ashes down the line. I think there are other priorities that he needs to be fit for.”
Noteworthy, the preliminary squads for T20 World Cup 2021 are due to be named in mid-September and England is only scheduled to play three more T20Is against Pakistan in July before that date, while three T20Is in Bangladesh in September meaning, which mean their plans are ready at an advance.
(With AFP Inputs)
