Morgan admits uncertainty over England's best T20 side

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1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EOIN MORGAN, ENGLAND T20 CAPTAIN, SAYING:

"The honest answer is we don't know our best XI yet. There are probably seven or eight guys who are pretty strong candidates to be playing there. But I think the strength of the squad selected, the reserves we have here, and given that it's the first time in a long time that we've had our full strength available side for selection, it make it really exciting."

2. WHITE FLASH

3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EOIN MORGAN, ENGLAND CAPTAIN, SAYING:

"You need to try and figure out who your best six or seven batsmen are, then the challenge in that is to get them in the roles that best suit them and best suits the team, but also gives you the best chance of winning the game."

4. WHITE FLASH

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EOIN MORGAN, ENGLAND CAPTAIN, SAYING:

"I also think looking ahead to the World Cup we will need the option of two spinners. But also, if we have the luxury of two all-rounders in the side in Ben (Stokes) and Sam (Curran), that is huge."

6. WHITE FLASH

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EOIN MORGAN, ENGLAND CAPTAIN, SAYING:

"I think winning at the moment would be great, but for us, given the luxury of the players that we have at our disposal, it is more important that we get their roles right and they feel comfortable within that. Because I think that if we manage to solve that problem the results will look after themselves. So the process that going through what's best for our team, and best for our players, to try and beat the opposition is extremely important."

STORY: England captain Eoin Morgan says he does not know his best XI going into the three-match Twenty20 International series against hosts South Africa that starts at Newlands on Friday (November 27).

England have a full-strength squad to choose from for the first time this year and Morgan admits there is plenty to ponder in both the batting and bowling line-ups, as well as the balance of the side in the shortest format.

"We don't know our best XI yet," he told reporters on Thursday. "There are probably seven or eight guys who are pretty strong candidates to be playing there. But I think the strength of the squad selected, the reserves we have here, and given that it's the first time in a long time that we've had our full strength available side for selection, it make it really exciting.

"You need to try and figure out who your best six or seven batsmen are, then the challenge in that is to get them in the roles that best suit them and best suits the team, but also gives you the best chance of winning the game."

Ben Stokes looks certain to play as one all-rounder, but whether England will play another in the number seven batting position is unclear. And if they do, will it be the seam of Sam Curran or the spin of Moeen Ali?

The fact that the 2021 Twenty20 World Cup will be played in India next October and November, in conditions very different to seamer-friendly South Africa, is another piece of the puzzle for the selectors.

"Looking ahead to the World Cup we will need the option of two spinners. But also, if we have the luxury of two all-rounders in the side in Ben (Stokes) and Sam (Curran), that is huge.

"Winning at the moment would be great, but for us, given the luxury of the players that we have at our disposal, it is more important that we get their roles right and they feel comfortable within that. Because I think that if we manage to solve that problem the results will look after themselves. So the process that going through what's best for our team, and best for our players, to try and beat the opposition is extremely important."

(Production: Andy Ragg)

(Production: Andy Ragg)