England’s Morgan says Ireland eyeing an “upset” as ODI cricket returns

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VIDEO SHOWS: VIRTUAL NEWS CONFERENCES WITH ENGLAND CAPTAIN EOIN MORGAN AND IRELAND CAPTAIN ANDREW BALBIRNIE DAY AHEAD OF THEIR ODI MATCH SLATED FOR THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2020

RESENDING WITH COMPETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JULY 29, 2020) (ENGLAND AND WALES CRICKET BOARD - MUST ON SCREEN COURTESY ENGLAND AND WALES CRICKET BOARD)

1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENGLAND CAPTAIN, EOIN MORGAN, ON RETURNING TO INTERNATIONAL CRICKET FOLLOWING COVID-19 BREAK, SAYING:

"I think given the context of everything that's gone on over the last five months or so, we are extremely happy to be playing. I think things are moving quite quickly outside of the bubble. I know Middlesex and Surrey over the weekend did have spectators and things like that. So, potentially down the line that might progress. But I think given the context and the serious nature of the virus we're just delighted, both to be back playing, but also to have cricket back on TV. I think there's a huge and monumental effort that's gone into everything to make it happen. And so, we're extremely grateful for that. And also grateful for Ireland coming up."

2. WHITE FLASH

3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENGLAND CAPTAIN, EOIN MORGAN, ON IRELAND'S QUALIFICATION CHANCES, SAYING:

"Yeah, I think it's obviously a long process. And over a long period of time you need to play really good cricket and consistent cricket. I think having watched Ireland play at the beginning of the year against the West Indies, you know they posed a lot of questions. And actually, the result of the series probably didn't reflect the full performances of both sides throughout that series. So, given how the West Indies went in the 50-over World Cup, I think they (Ireland) have huge potential."

4. WHITE FLASH

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENGLAND CAPTAIN, EOIN MORGAN, ON IRELAND LOOKING TO UPSET ENGLAND, SAYING:

"I think they'll (Ireland) be very much up for it (upsetting England). I think given the limited fixtures that they have, having had two sides pull out of tours, they'll be looking to cause an upset, definitely, and to win the series, obviously. But I think the most important thing for Irish cricket is actually playing as many fixtures as they can. Because naturally, I think, guys will get better if they have - a group of young, talented players, you need to have them playing cricket. You can't just have them sitting on the sidelines. So, I also said the same thing when they gained test match status. So, that's great status, but what fixtures are they going to play in and how many? And it's great that they're getting more and more, as are other countries as well, but I think you can always get more."

6. WHITE FLASH

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) IRELAND CAPTAIN, ANDREW BALBIRNIE, ON RETURNING TO PLAYING INTERNATIONAL CRICKET, SAYING:

"Yeah, it's certainly been different, but it's been very rewarding as well. I think the opportunity to come over and play these games having potentially not having any cricket at all is certainly - we're very fortunate, we're very grateful to Cricket Ireland and ECB. And it's been fantastic here at the Ageas Bowl. So, we've had two pitches available and stuff. Yeah look, we're all very excited about tomorrow. It's an opportunity to go toe-to-toe with the best team in the world and we're certainly excited for it."

8. WHITE FLASH

9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) IRELAND CAPTAIN, ANDREW BALBIRNIE, ON FACING ENGLAND WITH NO CROWDS, SAYING:

"Yeah, we played an intra-squad game about a week ago and it was certainly strange that that would be the atmosphere that we're going to be playing the one-day internationals in. But I think, from our point of view, if you can't get yourself up for an ODI against the world champions, even though there's nobody here, but there's going to be a huge audience around the world and it's an opportunity to show where this Irish team is at. And it's a new-enough team, in the sense of experience. We've got a lot of young guys coming through. And it's Ireland taking on England. For any Irish kid growing up, whether it was rugby or soccer, that was the fixture you wanted to play in and cricket's no different. I think the English boys look like they're firing pretty well and we're going to have to be at our best and my job is to make sure I get the guys going come 2 o'clock tomorrow."

STORY: England captain Eoin Morgan on Wednesday (July 29) said the world champions are not writing off Ireland as the sides prepare for a three-match one-day international series starting Thursday (July 30).

Morgan said the Irish will be hungry for an upset with their eyes set on qualifying for the 2023 World Cup.

The England-Ireland ODI series kicks off the inaugural Super League which will determine who qualifies for the 50-over World Cup in India in 2023.

Ireland captain Andrew Balbirnie said his side is looking forward to go "toe-to-toe with the best team in the world," noting there will be a huge television audience to energize them despite an empty stadium.

The series will be played behind closed doors in a bio-secure bubble at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.

(Production: Kurt Michael Hall)