Eoin Morgan      

Full name Eoin Joseph Gerard Morgan

Born September 10, 1986, Dublin

Current age 23 years 76 days

Major teams England, Ireland, England Lions, Ireland Under-19s, Middlesex, Middlesex 2nd XI

Nickname Moggie

Batting style Left-hand bat

Bowling style Right-arm medium

Fielding position Occasional wicketkeeper

Height 5 ft 9 in

Education Catholic University School

Eoin Morgan is an Irish-born Englishman with a reputation for inventive and audacious strokeplay. At the age of 23, he shot to prominence on the back of two match-winning innings against South Africa. First was a 34-ball 67 in the Champions Trophy in September 2009 which he followed two months later with an unbeaten 45-ball 85 in the opening Twenty20 of England's tour of South Africa. His bold approach and crisp hitting was reminiscent of the arrival of another English import, Kevin Pietersen, in 2005. With a blend of nous and power, Morgan looks a natural 'finisher' - a role England have struggled to fill for a decade.

A compact left-hander, Morgan grew up playing hurling and with his change-up sweeps and pulls, he has clearly taken aspects of the Irish sport into his cricket. He gained initial recognition with Ireland, averaging 52.20 in the World Cricket League, including his first ODI century, a sublime 115 from 106 balls against Canada. In the 2007 World Cup, as his team-mates impressed, Morgan disappointed with 91 runs from nine games. He joined his fellow Anglo-Irishman, Ed Joyce, at Middlesex in 2006, where he helped them to the Twenty20 Cup in 2008 and caught the eye of the England selectors.

Having completed his qualification period, he was named in England's squad for the ICC World Twenty20 in 2009, effectively ending his time with Ireland. For someone with Test ambitions, Morgan has a moderate first-class record - although the same criticisms were levelled at Marcus Trescothick and Michael Vaughan at the start of their international careers. Nevertheless, he will need to improve on his 2009 showing of 445 runs at an average of 24.72 in Division Two, if he is to avoid being pigeon-holed as a limited-overs specialist. Sahil Dutta (November 2009)

NBC Denis Compton Award 2003
NBC Denis Compton Award 2004

Nov 14, 2009

Eoin Morgan was in high spirits after his Wanderers display

© Getty Images

Nov 14, 2009

Eoin Morgan is pointing England's Twenty20 batting in the right direction

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Nov 13, 2009

Eoin Morgan shows his full range of shots with a reverse sweep

© Gallo Images

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