Morgan approved as Pietersen's W. Cup replacement

The International Cricket Council has authorized Eoin Morgan (pictured) as a deputy player for a harmed Kevin Pietersen in a England squad.
©AFP/File – Adrian Dennis

NEW DELHI (AFP) – The International Cricket Council has authorized Eoin Morgan as a deputy player for a harmed Kevin Pietersen in a England squad.

Morgan, a 24-year-old middle-order batsman, has played 38 ODIs for England, scoring 1,160 runs during an normal of 40.

Pietersen, a 14th player to be transposed in a tournament, has a hernia injury. The 30-year-old will bear an operation that he had hoped to carry over until after a World Cup.

Former Ireland batsman Morgan would have been in England’s strange patrol though for a finger injury.

“Eoin Morgan is an sparkling cricketer,” England manager Andy Flower told Sky Sports. “It’s starting to be great to have him back.”

Ravi Bopara, Morgan’s replacement, done a man-of-the-match winning 60 opposite South Africa in Chennai.

But both Morgan as well as Bopara have been of course middle-order batsmen, that leaves Flower wanting a latest opening partner for England captain Andrew Strauss.