England Must Recall Joe Root and Ben Stokes for Champions Trophy: Morgan Tells Why

Eoin Morgan has advised England to recall Joe Root and Ben Stokes for Champions Trophy in Pakistan. Both the players last played for England in the ODIs during the 2023 ODI World Cup in India when the exit of group stages marked a disappointing end to their title-defence attempt.

According to Morgan, with the amount of experience and skill, bringing back Root and Stokes will strengthen England’s chances in the championship by a lot.

“At the moment, I’m happy to back the younger players. In the recent series against Australia, they found a template. Australia, you have to commend how good they are at the moment in all formats of the game. But when you put them up against a side that, at stages, didn’t have [Jofra] Archer, no Wood, Stokes and Root as well, no Buttler, that’s half your England team.

Root and Stokes will not be in action in the three-match series against the West Indies, but England has assured that both players are still well in the reckoning for the future. Stokes did not play in the recent 3-2 loss series against Australia due to injury, while Root was rested to regain his lost stamina from another gruelling Test series he had played against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Morgan said that they really need both players as England haven’t looked at their best without Jos Buttler and Mark Wood in the process of the series so far.

Morgan also touched upon Harry Brook, who scored a hundred in a run chase in Durham. Morgan sees it as a hopeful sign for the team. He does want to see Joe Root and Ben Stokes again in the Champions Trophy. Indeed, he feels that they must play in this one if England are to field their strongest possible team. There are only six ODIs left prior to the tournament – three in the Caribbean and three in India in early 2024. So, the pressure builds on Morgan to firm up his squad before then.

The run chase at Durham, when Harry Brook scored that magnificent hundred and then just went on to find his feet as captain… the template that they found in that game, I thought, is one that really suits the players that they’ve selected. I would encourage them to continue with that template and look ahead to the Champions Trophy.”

Brendon McCullum would take over as England’s white-ball coach in January 2024, and Morgan also hopes he would look into the return of Stokes and Root. Stokes said that he would love to come back in case he gets selected while Morgan continued saying that both of them should be within the best possible squad of England so they can win the Champions Trophy. It is, therefore, a critical series against West Indies on which they can make their claim before the finalization of the squad. The younger players try their luck in making a place in the side.

“Ben Stokes has already said that he hasn’t had the call yet from Baz as to whether he will play or not,” Morgan said. “If that call comes, obviously he would love to play. In my eyes, they’ve got to come into a major world tournament and look to win it, and that means trying to find the best team – and for me, Stokes and Root are in that best team.

“The younger players playing in the upcoming series against the West Indies, and then coming here [India] in February, the opportunity is there in front of your face. And that opportunity can be quickly taken away when those big names come back.”