Newbie Morgan eager to be put to the Test

[1]

Eoin Morgan has insisted he will have no problems adjusting to the tempo of Test cricket should he make his debut in the five-day format against Bangladesh at Lord’s on Thursday.
And he even joked Brian Lara’s world record score of 400 not out might be under threat, such was the Ireland-born left-hander’s new-found discipline.

Best known as a fast scoring one-day and Twenty20 batsman Morgan, asked at Lord’s on Tuesday if he had the patience to bat for five or six hours, replied: “I think so, certainly. I think I might get about 400 ... that wouldn’t be a bad start.”
The 23-year-old, who plays his county at Lord’s for Middlesex, was called up into England’s squad for the first of two Tests against Bangladesh after Paul Collingwood, whom he played under as a member of England”s victorious World Twenty20 side in the Caribbean, was omitted because of a shoulder injury.
Morgan has a modest first-class average of just over 36 but neither former Test batsmen Michael Vaughan nor Marcus Trescothick had great county records before they entered the Test arena and both enjoyed successful careers.
Temperament has been a watchword for the England management under national selector Geoff Miller and coach Andy Flower.
And they clearly believe Morgan has what it takes to succeed at Test level.
Even so, Morgan said he was taken aback by his inclusion in a 12-man squad for the Bangladesh opener.
“It did surprise me, slightly, to get the phone call the other day. I was over the moon too, because to get a phone call like that is every kid’s dream,” he said.
“Test cricket is where I want to be, to test myself against the best.”
Morgan, best known for innovative reverse sweeps, said his fundamental approach to batting would not alter were he to become a Test player. — AFP