England carrying no scars from WT20 2016 heartbreak: Eoin Morgan

England captain Eoin Morgan, ahead of his side’s T20WC 2021 opener, asserted that the Three Lions are carrying no scars from the defeat in the final of the World T20 in 2016, and insisted that players “wouldn't have progressed like they have done over the last four or five years” had there been any. 

England will kick-start their 2021 T20 World Cup campaign on Saturday against West Indies, the team that broke English hearts five years ago in Kolkata by snatching victory in the final over.  However, Morgan believes that, five years on, his side will begin with a clean slate.

"I think if they were scars we would have lost a lot of players who wouldn't have progressed like they have done over the last four or five years,” Morgan said on Friday.

England, on Saturday, will be playing in Dubai, but the Three Lions will also play matches in both Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. The England skipper asserted that his side has the ability to adapt to conditions, and he also stressed that the team that adjusts the best will go on to win the competition.

"The side who adapts to all three venues the best throughout will go on and win," explained Morgan. 

“Within our squad we have the ability to do that, we obviously have to be on top of our game, adapt well and be confident with it."

West Indies skipper Kieron Pollard, meanwhile, revealed that the Windies are still sweating over the fitness of Andre Russell. Russell, who sustained an injury in the second half of IPL 2021, played the warm-up match against Afghanistan, but Pollard clarified that the warm-up appearance was a mere ‘trial’ for the all-rounder.

"He (Russell) played in that warm-up game a couple days ago, and it was just like a trial for him because he hadn't played a cricket match in about three weeks, three to four weeks," said West Indies captain Kieron Pollard on Friday. 

"Let's see what transpires in this last (training) session."