World Cup 2023: England vs Sri Lanka is not just a game, it’s a battle for redemption, says Eoin Morgan

World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan reckons that England’s group match against Sri Lanka is not just another cricket match but it’s a battle for redemption, an opportunity for the defending champions to reestablish themselves as one of the cricketing giants of the world.

England’s campaign in the current World Cup got off to a rocky start, with three losses in their first four matches. They opened with a defeat against New Zealand, followed by a victory over Bangladesh. However, the team’s morale took a severe hit as they faced consecutive losses to Afghanistan and South Africa, the latter by a staggering 229-run margin. As a result, they found themselves languishing at the bottom of the points table, with only the net run rate keeping them above the basement.

“Thursday’s clash in Bengaluru is not just a game,” Morgan told the International Cricket Council. “It’s a battle for redemption, a chance for England to prove that they can bounce back from adversity and reaffirm their status as one of the cricketing giants.

Morgan said that England’s primary task is to reignite the team’s belief that they are still very much in contention for the World Cup. At their best, England boasts the firepower to overcome any cricketing challenge. The question that lingers is how quickly they can put their recent setbacks behind them and rediscover their winning form.

“Their primary task is to rejuvenate the team’s belief that they can still clinch the World Cup despite the gloomy start. One must not forget that England, at their best, possess the firepower to conquer any challenge. But how quickly they can put their recent woes behind them and rediscover their mojo remains the big question.

“When they face Sri Lanka, who are a talented yet unpredictable side, they will need to find that balance between resilience and aggression that made them world champions just a few years ago.

“Sri Lanka are a team that has had moments of brilliance and they will pose a substantial challenge.

“But it is England’s internal battles, both in terms of team confidence and selection decisions, that will define their destiny in this World Cup.”

As England gears up for the upcoming intense battles against cricket giants India and Australia, their primary objective is to secure a pivotal win against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru to stay afloat in the competition.