Morgan urges batsmen to aim for centuries

Published on Wednesday 16 September 2009 22:35

EOIN Morgan believes England's prospects in one-day cricket have long been undermined by a lack of consistency, but promised "anything is possible" if the batsmen can start producing some much-needed centuries.

Morgan top-scored for England with a dashing 58 at Trent Bridge on Tuesday but that was not enough to prevent Australia collecting a fifth consecutive NatWest series victory. With two games still to play, and Ricky Ponting in ominous form following his relentless 126 in Nottingham, England are facing a 7-0 series whitewash.

Morgan admits an inability by batsmen to turn good starts into major scores has been holding the team back but insists they are capable of becoming a force in the 50-over game.

"The thing that English cricket has always lacked in one-day cricket is consistency," said Morgan. "We are capable of fantastic performances here and there but have failed to find that level where we can continue to win games.

"I think that is why we haven't won enough games to win major tournaments and it is something we are striving for at the moment in the dressing room.

"I think hard work and perseverance will get us that consistency eventually and we can't shy away from that. If we remain focused on what we want to achieve and dedicate ourselves to it then anything is possible."

The side that played on Tuesday had just four England hundreds between them, with Morgan also scoring one for Ireland, compared to Ponting's 27 for Australia. Morgan concedes that is an area for improvement.

"Certainly in the good one-day sides the top six are earmarked to get the hundreds. If one of you gets in, then the idea is to go on and get a hundred," said Morgan.

The sixth match of the series takes place at Trent Bridge today, where England will again be without Luke Wright.

The all-rounder has been ruled out for the series after he was hit on the big toe by the bowling machine, leaving him needing stitches and sweating on his Champions Trophy spot.

Wright's fitness will be assessed following the seventh match in Durham, with Hampshire skipper Dimitri Mascarenhas standing in for the Sussex man until then.

Should he be ruled out of the trip to South Africa, Mascarenhas is the most obvious like- for-like replacement, although Warwickshire pair Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott may be considered should England choose to shore up the top six.