England’s 2019 World Cup winning captain Eoin Morgan has announced his retirement from international cricket with immediate effect. Morgan played his last international match against the Netherlands earlier this month. He got out for a duck in two consecutive matches. The Irish-born cricketer had a fitness problem before the third ODI. He was ruled out of the series citing a groin injury. He said goodbye to international cricket before the T20 and ODI series against India.
Morgan took charge of the team at a critical time. He took the team from floor to floor. He was named the captain of the England cricket team in white-ball cricket after a disappointing performance in the 2015 Cricket World Cup. He then took the team to unprecedented heights. He not only led England to the ODI World Cup title in 2019, but also took them to the No. 1 ranking in One Day Internationals and T20Is.
Under Morgan’s leadership, the England team held the record for most runs in an innings of ODI cricket three times. Last week, the team scored 498/4 against the Netherlands. He was also part of the England team that won its maiden title in the 2010 T20 World Cup. The team reached the final in 2016. Then he was the captain of the team.
Morgan led England 126 times in ODIs and 72 times in T20 cricket. He played international cricket for Ireland before turning to England in 2009. He represented England in 340 limited overs international matches. He played 16 Tests for England between 2010 and 2012. Scored two centuries during this period.
Morgan said in a release issued by the England and Wales Cricket Board, “After much deliberation, I announce my retirement from international cricket with immediate effect. It hasn’t been an easy decision, but I believe it’s the right time for both me and England cricket to do so.”
The ECB said in its statement, “The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirms that Eoin Morgan, the White Ball Captain of England Men’s Cricket, has retired from international cricket with immediate effect. During his 13-year international career with England, the 35-year-old won the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup as captain in 2019 at Lord’s. For the first time, the England men’s cricket team became the champion. He was also part of the England team that won the 2010 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup on Caribbean soil.