On the latest episode of the Wisden Cricket Weekly Podcast, Mark Butcher addressed the current form of England men’s white-ball captain Eoin Morgan.
Morgan’s position is currently under scrutiny due to a prolonged run of low scores with the bat and fitness concerns.
Ahead of England’s three-match ODI series against the Netherlands, the 35-year-old said: “I still feel like I contribute and still feel like I can contribute to a World Cup win.”
But Morgan endured a difficult tour, recording consecutive ducks before a groin injury kept him out of the final ODI.
Since the start of 2021, Morgan has hit just one half-century in international and domestic cricket.
When asked if he could envisage Morgan leading England at the 2023 ODI World Cup, to be held in India, Butcher said: “I can’t see it, honestly, because Liam Livingstone needs to be in that side. And the strength of striking power around that squad just means there just isn’t room for somebody just to be captain, doesn’t matter how good that captain is.
“I would be staggered if he tries to make it through to the 2023 World Cup. That’s not because of two ducks against the Netherlands. Frankly, who cares? That doesn’t matter. I was surprised that he didn’t announce that he was done with it after they won in 2019. We’re now three years after that and he’s still going.
“Look, he’ll probably prove us all wrong, come back, great fitness and have an extraordinary run of form and lead the side in the next one, but at the moment that looks like a wild fantasy, doesn’t it?”
