Skipper Eoin Morgan impressed by England’s new boys

Jofra Archer, Ben Foakes and Ben Duckett all made T20 debuts as England beat Pakistan by seven wickets in Cardiff with four balls to spare.

“It’s pleasing to win when you’ve got three debutants,” England captain Morgan said after England had added victory in their only T20 international of the summer to Friday’s 50-over win over Ireland.

“The game has the potential to bite you in the backside, and you should never debut three or four guys at the same time.

“But opportunities dictated it had to be done. Coming out of both games with a win will encourage the new guys and, us as a collective, to look at performance objectively.

“Otherwise, maybe inwardly we would have put more pressure on themselves, and ourselves as a team.

“This is a fast-track way to learn, for some guys who might be called into the World Cup squad at some stage.”

Archer falls into that category and, after looking at ease against Ireland on his international debut after serving a three-year qualification period, he impressed again.

The Barbados-born paceman produced some excellent variation, mixing slow off-cutters with deliveries of real pace and bounce, to finish with two for 29 from his four overs.

Archer also ran out Babar Azam, the world’s top T20 batsman, for 65 to turn the contest firmly in England’s favour and provide another boost with the 50-over World Cup on the horizon.

“Jofra came on from the game in Ireland, he showed a lot more what he’s about,” said Morgan, whose unbeaten 57 guided England to victory.

“It’s another debut and they don’t always go well. The majority of the time they don’t.

“Him and the other bowlers will have the opportunity to show what they can do (in the one-day series against Pakistan).

“But it’s been a while, before the Ireland game, that he’s played 50-over cricket, and we’re conscious of not over-bowling him.”

Morgan explained the bizarre incident at the start of the game when paceman David Willey fortunately avoided serious injury.

Willey was just about to reach the delivery crease when the ground gave way under him and a huge hole appeared in the Sophia Gardens turf.

Apparently it was the result of a pitch box popping up after contact, and ground staff had to repair the damage.

“Before we bowled a ball, David ran in and it was right in his stride,” Morgan said.

“We agreed with the umpire that David would miss his stride so he could land a foot further.

“One of his strides obviously went back into pattern and hit it. There was no harm done, but it could have ended pretty badly.

“The covering was broke, smashed straight through, and replaced. It was a small tunnel, it looked like wiring in there.”

Morgan felt Pakistan’s 173 for six on a greenish Sophia Gardens strip was “just above par”.

But Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed said: “We were about 10-12 runs short.

“Eoin Morgan and Joe Root batted well and we were always struggling after that.”