LONDON: Cricket World Cup favourites England will go into their opener against South Africa on Thursday boosted by a motivational speech from national soccer manager Gareth Southgate. Captain Eoin Morgan, who reported no injury worries in a settled side with his starting 11 decided, told reporters at The Oval on Wednesday that the recent talk had resonated well with the players. “We did a session with Gareth, it was brilliant,” said Morgan, whose men played football as part of their training on Wednesday. “Every one of our players enjoyed it and every one of our backroom staff did as well. “He got up and talked about his journey with the team in and around the World Cup, in the build-up as well and how they built bigger expectations and became more together as a group,” he added.
“I think everybody within the room listening who has been involved in our team over the last four years recognised that they are where we were two years ago and we started exactly where they did.” Ranked the top one-day side in the world, hosts England have yet to win the World Cup and will have to cope with a high burden of expectation.