Morgan has England defection plans

EOIN MORGAN will line-up proudly in the green of Ireland against England tomorrow hoping he can become the second Irish player to defect to the opposition.

The 20-year-old left-hander is already regarded as one of the rising stars of Irish cricket, having excelled at every age level he has represented.

But, in the next few years, he is hopeful of following Middlesex team-mate Ed Joyce and donning the blue of England, opening the floodgates for Irish players hoping to make the grade at the highest level.

Dublin-born Joyce led the way two years ago when, after helping Ireland reach the World Cup for the first time, completed his qualification with England.

He is now their chosen opener alongside captain Michael Vaughan.

Joyce could, however, be the first of many, with fellow Dubliner Morgan leading a number of exciting young Irish players with ambitions beyond playing one-day international cricket for their motherland.

“When I first moved to England it was a hard decision, but I want to get to the highest level in my career and the career I’ve chosen is cricket,” saidMorgan, who moved to Middlesex aged just 14 after being spotted playing on an Ireland Under-17s tour of England.

“In order to do that I have to go and play abroad – if I could play in DublinI would.

“Ed has blazed a trail for us. People have recognised that the development in Irish cricket is fantastic and we have players like William Porterfield and both Kevin and Niall O’Brien, who are fantastic cricketers.

“You have to realise they are only playing part-time at the moment and they are playing against full international cricketers. We all see ourselves as following the same route as Ed – he’s led the way and we can only follow.”

Far from cause resentment among the Irish cricket fraternity over theirambition to further themselves abroad, more senior members of the Ireland squad are actively promoting that as a career.

Vice-captain Kyle McCallan, who had trials with Derbyshire and Surrey as a youngster, believes Joyce’s success can blaze a trail for other Irish players to follow and become role models for future cricketers.

“Our game needs role models and the more players than can make it at county level, and perhaps go on and play at the highest level, the better,” said 32-year-old McCallan.

“I tried my hand with trials at Surrey and Derby, but I probably didn’t haveany self-belief that I could do it. This was before Ed Joyce so people would ask you ‘do they play cricket inIreland?’ I think the mould has been broken now and, if I was 20 now, I think I would have a better shot.”

Of course, there are also major disadvantages to playing county cricket, as Morgan discovered last summer when Ireland played their historic inaugural one-day international against England at Stormont.

Morgan would have been an automatic selection for the match but, because England had already selected Joyce and Jamie Dalrymple, Middlesex refused to release him and he made his championship debut against Nottinghamshire instead.

“It was very frustrating not to be able to come over and be a part of a big occasion like that,” Morgan admitted.

“I would have loved to have taken part in that, but my long-term future iswith Middlesex and I want to develop my game so I can go to the next level.

“It was disappointing in that sense not to play, but I made my debut forMiddlesex while that was going on and went on to play a few more games for the first team that summer.”

His runs in the World Cup have so far not befitted his status as the risingstar of Irish cricket – he is yet to pass 21 yet in his three innings so far.

But he is desperate to do well on Friday for the showdown with England, when his team become re-acquainted with Joyce and continue their learning curve.

“Since we’ve qualified for the Super Eights, we’ve been looking forward tothat game, not only to put on a team performance but, for me personally, I’m looking to get some runs because I’ve struggled a bit since I came here,” added Morgan.

“I feel I am in a bit of form, it’s just a matter of spending some time at thecrease.

“Maybe it’s the jitters or a bit of nervousness at the crease, but I feel I’vesettled in now and learned from the past three games and I feel okay.”