Morgan confident England can handle the pressure of a home World Cup

As is the case with the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019, England were one of the favourites to lift the Champions Trophy title in 2017 – the last time they hosted an ICC event. However, they suffered a semi-final exit, after getting beaten by Pakistan on a slow pitch in Cardiff. Morgan, however, suggested that England had come out of the experience a better side.

"After that 2017 semi-final, the chat in the dressing room was a combination of two things," he said in an exclusive chat with the Daily Mail. "'Were we beaten by the better side and were we playing on a wicket that suited us?' Since then, we've played on similar wickets — at Sydney and Wellington — and in both, we played better the second time around.

"As long as we go out to play the way we play. Our style has evolved over the last number of years, from extremely aggressive to positive, aggressive, smart cricket. I'm very excited."

Morgan is now preparing to lead what is arguably the strongest side in the World Cup this year, and perhaps the strongest side England has ever fielded in the flagship tournament. England have been identified as the team to beat at the World Cup and will be carrying a huge baggage, with expectations abound for them to lift their first 50-over global trophy.

Since their exit at the group stage of the 2015 edition, Morgan has led England through a transitional phase that has seen them become No.1 on the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings. It is a period that has been marked by England winning 53 out of the 82 ODIs they have played.

Morgan said that the team is used to carrying the label around now. "We've talked about being favourites a lot since the Champions Trophy,' he said. "We went into that tournament and only got to the semi-finals and we've spoken about that. We've tried to replicate being favourites ever since, which we have been in every series.

"The guys are relaxed, they're used to the fact they're favourites. It's more a case now of what needs to be done to prepare well.”

England will face Ireland in a one-off ODI on 03 May in Dublin. They will then host Pakistan in a one-off Twenty20 International that will be followed by a five-match ODI series. That will be followed by the World Cup, where they kick off their campaign against South Africa at the Oval on 30 May.