“If we’re going to go a long way at the World Cup, we’re going to need the likes of Morgs to have a really good tournament”

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England pace bowler Stuart Broad has announced that he is confident Eoin Morgan will taste a lot of success during his tenure as ODI captain.

Morgan replaced Alastair Cook as ODI captain following England’s disappointing tour of Sri Lanka in November, where the national team were hammered 5-2 in the seven-match ODI series.

“Everyone enjoys watching Morgs when he plays – he’s a free spirit and he’ll want the players to express themselves,” Broad, who is currently recovering from knee surgery, said. “That’s a great thing for us because a run a ball in one-day cricket almost isn’t good enough now. Teams are scoring over 350 so we’re going to need players to play with freedom and not get down on themselves if they do get out playing aggressive shots.

“We saw players like Moeen Ali in Sri Lanka play some unbelievable knocks and really go expressively from ball one.

“But then he got stumped playing a big shot and a lot of pressure came on him – it was all, ‘oh you can’t play shots like that’.

“We need an environment where that kind of play is backed, where players are told to go and play their way, to take the game away from the opposition.

“That’s the one-day game now and Morgs can bring us that.”

Broad added: “The first thing that will help Morgs with the captaincy is the extra responsibility. His mind will change away from his technique and what he’s been doing with the bat to more about how the team is working.

“I think that will free his batting up. He’s not a technical player, he’s not someone who wants to think too much in the nets. The extra responsibility will take his mind off his own game and free him up to play in the aggressive spirit he always [has].

“One thing is for sure – if we’re going to go a long way at the World Cup, we’re going to need the likes of Morgs to have a really good tournament.”