Eoin Morgan: My team and I aren't done yet

AFTER being a part of the Match of the Century to clinch Englands maiden ICC World Cup trophy at Lords on July 14 skipper Eoin Morgan actually took some time off to reflect whether he still has it in him to deliver with distinction for his countryThe Irishman who will be part of the Abu Dhabi T10 league that will be telecasted on Sony Pictures Sports Network spoke to midday yesterday about Englands whirlwind World Cup campaign Ben Stokes evolution and the road ahead for English cricketExcerptsWhat made you give captaincy a second thoughtAfter the rollercoaster World Cup and the final Ive seen it as a time to gather my thoughts and see how my body and mind is Having some time to think about has helped me understand that can I still lead the team It has taken me a couple of weeks to understand that the desire and hunger is still there Thats what my decision has come down toWhat was the stand out feature for you in Englands World Cup triumphThe standout feature was in two parts The first is where we started well particularly against South Africa Then there was a bit of a wobble against Sri Lanka and Australia The second part consisted of everything about our team going out there and expressing ourselves being the best possible team and just to justify why we were ranked No 1 We have a lot of guys who like to show character when they play and the guys did that right from the India game in Birmingham and then right through to the finalHave you been in touch with NZ skipper Kane Williamson after the finalWe have spoken We have mixed emotions about the game because we handed them the game and then they handed it back and then they had it It was like a game of tennis Both teams had moments to win but didnt take them Thats why it was so tense and went right till the endWould you want to be in an another tense World Cup final like thatIt was dramatic In the 2016 T20I World Cup final in Kolkata Carlos Brathwaite hit four consecutive sixes I thought that was the most remarkable game I had ever played But this final has taken it to another level If such matches still happen its great for the game You can be selfish and say we want to win easy but if its easy it is not worth doingWhat is the roadmap for the futureThis is a stepping stone for us to continue to get better One of the problems we have had before this team was assembled was that we would win games in fantastic phases for say six months and then drop off Hopefully we can be similar to Australia India and New Zealand When these teams go to the World Cup they are considered to have genuine chances of winning We would like to be considered a genuine chance of winning rather than an outside chanceHow remarkable has Ben Stokes been in the last couple of yearsBens journey goes back further than the last few years Hes always been an exciting cricketer and extremely talented The last year and a half everyone has seen that Ben is such a kind person who gives emotionally and physically everything to the team but people dont see that a lot Now through his performances in the summer during the World Cup and then in the Test series he has literally just blown everyone away I believe this is complete heroism at its bestDo you see Stokes as a potential England captain once you quitEven if they are not captains there are leaders already within the whiteball and redball teams Theres Jos Buttler Ben Stokes Joe Root Chris Woakes and Jason Roy Every great team needs leaders It is not necessary that the captains call the shots always It is the guys working in the background who are very important tooThere is the Hundred format coming up You have the T10 league as well Does this dilute the essence of cricketI dont think so Every league and format has a place in the game Test cricket is a priority and the pinnacle We prioritise Test cricket back home With newer leagues and other formats like the T10 there is a specific role Having played two seasons of it watching the entertainment and the action has blown me away The format can host eight or 10team tournaments in a short time which makes it extremely appealing for the Olympics or the Commonwealth GamesCatch up on all the latest sports news and updates hereAlso download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates