Eoin Morgan insists England MUST win the 50-over World Cup to go down as one of the best sides ever

Eoin Morgan says England must win next year’s 50-over World Cup – and possibly the T20 equivalent in 2024 – if they want to go down as one of greatest white ball sides of all time.

Former captain Morgan, who retired from international cricket in June, says the team are now ‘100 per cent’ Jos Buttler’s following England’s triumph at the T20 World Cup in Australia, where they became the first men’s side to hold both limited-overs trophies.

He believes Buttler has grown in stature as a leader, after a summer in which England only won four white-ball matches out of 11.

England won the T20 World Cup last week to become the first side to hold both white-ball titles

Eoin Morgan said England need to win next year’s 50-over World Cup – and possibly the T20 equivalent in 2024 – if they want to go down as one of greatest white-ball sides of all time

But Morgan argued that their legacy remains up for grabs, with a pair of title defences to come in the next two years – the one-day World Cup in India and then the T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA.

‘Jos said before the semi-final against India it’s no good just being remembered as a side who were aggressive and threatening and everyone loved watching, but never won anything,’ Morgan told Sportsmail.

‘He said we need something tangible. There is the opportunity to do that, next year with the 50 overs and the following year, to go again. 

‘There’s no reason why you can’t end up at the pointy end of the World Cup again. I think Jos will judge himself on that.’

Morgan (left) was captain when England won the 2019 50-over World Cup but retired from international duty earlier this year

He also hailed the tactical evolution of Jos Buttler as captain over their World T20 campaign

Morgan will team up again with Buttler, as well as England Test coach Brendon McCullum, when they launch the Festival of Cricket at Gunnersbury Park in west London next July.

But for now he is enjoying Buttler’s growth as captain. Morgan was in Australia as a commentator, but also acted as a ‘sounding board’ for his successor as England went from strength to strength after losing to Ireland.

And he believes Buttler’s evolution was critical. ‘His strategy was way better at the back end of the tournament,’ he said. 

‘It’s about letting the game come to you and choosing the opportunities to play your cards. I felt that got better as the tournament went on. Obviously his performance with the bat did as well.’

England’s first Test in Pakistan will go ahead in Rawalpindi, as scheduled, on December 1. There had been fears it would be moved to Karachi after political unrest, but the Pakistan board have ruled the venue safe.

Meanwhile, Jon Lewis has been appointed head coach of England’s women’s team ahead of the tour of the West Indies next month. He previously worked with the men’s Under 19s and as fast bowling coach of the men’s senior side.

Jon Lewis (pictured) has been appointed as the new head coach of England’s women’s team