Even the timing of his retirement was spot on. Two ducks against the Netherlands is hardly a glorious exit but by putting the team first Eoin Morgan has selflessly given England a better chance of emulating his 2019 World Cup success.
He could have simply retired from ODI cricket and gone on to the next Twenty20 World Cup in Australia, ensuring a gradual handover to Jos Buttler.
He retained the full backing of his players as well as a board forever grateful he won them a global trophy (there is an enormous image of Morgan lifting the World Cup staring down on ECB execs as they make decisions in its boardroom).
But Morgan realised that while the mind is willing, his body is not and his own batting had declined below international standard.
Related News