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Eoin Morgan celebrates England's World Cup victory in 2019. PA

Eoin Morgan says it’s ‘right time’ to go as he confirms international retirement

The 35-year-old Dubliner, who led England to World Cup glory in 2019, has been beset by form and fitness issues over the last 12 months.

ENGLAND’S WORLD CUP-WINNING captain captain Eoin Morgan insisted now was “the right time” to step down as he announced his retirement from international cricket.

Morgan has revolutionised England’s limited-overs fortunes in his seven-and-a-half-year reign, taking them from also-rans at the 2015 World Cup to champions for the first time four years later.

But he has been beset by form and fitness issues over the last 12 months and, despite an ambition to lead the side at the T20 World Cup this autumn, the 35-year-old has ultimately decided to walk away.

Jos Buttler is widely expected to step up from his position as deputy to lead the white-ball sides, although the England and Wales Cricket Board has made no mention of who Morgan’s replacement will be.

“After careful deliberation and consideration, I am here to announce my retirement from international cricket with immediate effect,” said Morgan, who intends to carry on at domestic level.

“To call time on what has been without doubt the most enjoyable and rewarding chapter of my career hasn’t been an easy decision, but I believe now is the right time to do so, both for me, personally, and for both England white-ball sides I have led to this point.

“I have been lucky enough to play in two World Cup winning teams, but I believe the future for England’s white-ball teams is brighter than ever. We have more experience, more strength and more depth than ever before. I look forward to watching on with a huge level of excitement.

“To what lies ahead for me, I will continue to enjoy playing at a domestic level while I can. I’m really looking forward to playing and captaining London Spirit in the second edition of The Hundred this year.”

Dublin-born Morgan began his international career with his native Ireland in 2006 but switched his allegiance to England in 2009 and went on to finish as his adopted country’s record one-day and T20 run-scorer, posting 6,957 and 2,458 in the respective formats.

He is also the only England player to win both limited-overs World Cups, having helped Paul Collingwood’s side triumph in the T20 version in 2010 in the Caribbean.

However, he had a sobering trip to the Netherlands this month as, while England won the ODI series 3-0, Morgan was twice dismissed for a duck before missing the concluding game last week with a groin niggle.

“From my start in the international arena with Ireland to winning the World Cup in 2019, I have never lost sight of how integral family support is to any international sportsperson,” Morgan added.

“To my mum and dad, my wife Tara and our family around the world, thank you for your unconditional support throughout the good and more challenging times in my career. Without you all, this incredible journey would not have been possible.

“I must also thank my team-mates, coaches, supporters, and those behind the scenes who have made my career and any successes possible. I am hugely proud of what I have achieved as a player and captain, but the things I will cherish and remember the most are the memories I made with some of the greatest people I know along the way.”

Morgan’s stewardship cemented his place among the pantheon of English sport’s greatest leaders and, while his success at Lord’s in 2019 was his biggest achievement, he also led England to the top of both the ODI and T20 rankings as well as the 2016 T20 World Cup final.

Rob Key, managing director of England men’s cricket, said: “On behalf of the ECB and everyone involved in cricket, I’d like to thank Eoin Morgan for his outstanding contribution to the game.

“It will be wrong to think Eoin’s legacy was just winning the World Cup in 2019; it is far greater than that.

“As with all great players and leaders, he has changed the way the game has been played, and he has changed the way an entire generation and generations to come will play this form of the game. His legacy within the game will be felt for many years to come.

“He is, without question, the best leader I have seen. I wish him well in the next chapter of his career.”

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    Mute conor carroll
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    Sep 30th 2024, 9:51 PM

    Great advertisement for the LOI. How ex Shels RTE commentator could say Matty Smith should not have been sent off is beyond me. Shels lost their discipline at the end.

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    Mute Dermot Lane
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    Sep 30th 2024, 10:01 PM

    What a game. Incredible to watch on telly.

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    Mute Super Saint
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    Sep 30th 2024, 9:47 PM

    Brilliant game of football! Up the Saints!

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    Mute michael graham
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    Sep 30th 2024, 10:06 PM

    Incredible match , brilliant atmosphere .I wonder why Pats were only given 500 tickets when there was room for another 500

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    Mute Ultán Corcoran
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    Sep 30th 2024, 9:51 PM

    May not be riveting football, but I’d rather it that way with lots of goals any day. Some incredible finishes, particularly the two Shels goals. They still have a healthy lead but sometimes pressure affects less-experienced sides more when it matters most. Rovers with the more favourable fixtures too, albeit they need a win next week to truly unsettle Duff’s men for the run in. Those sides fighting relegation like Drogheda can become banana skins too in the latter stages of any league.

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    Mute Bert Carolan
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    Sep 30th 2024, 10:28 PM

    Great entertainment. Couple of wonderful finishes, Keenas effort from inside his own half outrageous.
    Mistakes to be sure but guys on 100000 a week make mistakes.
    Thought Shels should have brought on the big lad up front sooner.

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    Mute Ian Cunningham
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    Sep 30th 2024, 9:44 PM

    It’s like a bunch of drunks doing a 100 metre race. If you’re invested in a team it may seem exciting, but it’s been a very poor season, particularly for Shams with all the resources at their disposal. Even if they do win in the end, Bradders has been exposed as clueless.

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    Mute Ellis Dewald
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    Sep 30th 2024, 9:59 PM

    @Ian Cunningham: you do talk some drivel Ian!

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    Mute Ian Cunningham
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    Sep 30th 2024, 10:39 PM

    @Ellis Dewald: Shels have 54 points out of 96, Shams 49 out of 96. In any other league in the world these stats wouldn’t put a team within an asses roar of the title. Just because anyone can beat anyone on a given day doesn’t make it a great league.

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    Mute Bert Carolan
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    Sep 30th 2024, 10:43 PM

    @Ian Cunningham: Bayern Munich ran away with the bundesliga every year until last year, did that make it a great league?

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    Mute Ultán Corcoran
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    Sep 30th 2024, 11:57 PM

    @Bert Carolan: Personally I will say yes ;) although not the ideal regular winner I agree. If we had a bit more nerve, BVB should’ve snapped up two of them titles too.

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    Mute Fergus Desmond
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    Oct 1st 2024, 11:24 AM

    @Ian Cunningham:

    Drivel is right

    Great advertisement for the league with ROVERS back in it

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    Mute Brian I
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    Sep 30th 2024, 11:34 PM

    After shels made it two each, they needed composure, and Duff just throne a tantrum on the line and it seeped into the team, it was a great game, it’s amazing how open it still is, if Pats were to win all four games and get to 59, the other teams are showing no consistency to say they will, poor season but has the makings of a great finish.

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    Mute Ruairi Galavan
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    Oct 1st 2024, 11:14 AM

    Brilliant stuff. Best LOI game I can remember seeing and delighted the TV cameras were there. Now imagine what our league could be with some investment.

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    Mute Tony McGrath
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    Sep 30th 2024, 10:20 PM

    The bluffer should be made watch fools and horses

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    Mute patsfan1166
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    Oct 1st 2024, 11:54 AM

    Sh€ls are falling apart again

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