Skipper Eoin Morgan has confirmed England will select their strongest Twenty20 XI for the two-match series with South Africa as they build up to the World T20.
Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali and Joe Root, who have played all nine competitive matches on this tour, were rested for the tourists’ 44-run warm-up win over South Africa at Boland Park last night.
But with the World T20 in India next month, Morgan wants his best team on the field in Cape Town tomorrow and Johannesburg on Sunday.
“Nobody will be rested over the next two games, he said. “They are games we really want to win.”
David Willey stressed the importance of laying down a marker against a strong South Africa A outfit last night, a view Morgan agreed with.
The left-handed batsman wants to generate the winning feeling heading into the World T20.
“Twenty20 is very funny in that regard – when momentum is with you, it can be very kind, but also if you’re struggling to gain it, it can be brutal,” Morgan said.
“If you’re trying to turn around momentum, and gain wins, it’s a terrible game.”
Having struggled for runs in the 3-2 one-day international series defeat to the Proteas, Morgan bounced back with a brutal display of hitting in Paarl.
The 29-year-old smashed five sixes and a four in amassing 42 from just 13 balls, lifting England to 202 for six after Alex Hales’ sensational form continued with 78.
“It felt great,” he said. “I haven’t felt out of form, just short on runs, and it was nice to come in and play with the freedom I like playing with.
“I’d like to come out and score some runs in these next two games – it might happen, it might not – but I’ll stay true to what’s worked for me in recent times. That has come with experience.”
Source: ECB