Morgan Starts Oz Summer at Lord's

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Eoin Morgan was delighted to get back in the runs during England's 15-run win over Australia in the first one-day international at Lord's.

Morgan scored an unbeaten 89 from just 63 balls as the hosts made a strong start in their five-match series with the world's top one-day international team.

The 25-year-old was left out of the Test reckoning after his miserable tour of the United Arab Emirates against Pakistan in January and February and was then restricted to net practice in the Indian Premier League while the English season began in earnest without him.

"It's not fun when you're not getting any runs, not contributing to the team. So today was a big start for my summer," the left-hander said.

"When I came back from Dubai, I had two weeks off and came back and reflected on what I'd done poorly in the UAE and made some technical changes.

"One of them was the balance of my head, and the other was my hand movement. The stuff I did was very basic. It's just a matter of monitoring it."

Cook pleased

Skipper Alastair Cook was pleased with the batting efforts of his side, who started steadily before Morgan injected the impetus that carried them to a winning total of 272-5.

Cook said: "To score at a strike rate of 130 or 140 is an incredible innings, to get us up to a really competitive score.

"Clearly, it was hard work to start with at the top. The ball was nipping around a bit, but what was pleasing is that we didn't panic as a batting order.

"We kept wickets in hand, and we all know at Lord's you can make up (time), especially with people like Eoin to come in. It worked well.

"To have wickets in hand is part of our gameplan, and the conditions didn't allow us to do much else for the first 20 odd overs. I don't think you could have played much differently.

"To get a good start like we did - it might have been a bit slow - meant we certainly laid the groundwork for someone like Morgs to come in and do what he did."

Too good

Cook's opposite number Michael Clarke praised the efforts of Morgan but believed his own side could have done more to stop him.

He said: "He played really well, that's for sure. He helped England get to a very good total, and it was too good for us today unfortunately.

"We probably didn't execute our skills at the death as well as we could have. I think they took 80-odd off the last 10 overs.

"Then we lost wickets at important stages of the game, where we needed blokes to go on and make big scores.

"We were a little bit impatient, but that's what good bowling does. It builds pressure and it makes you impatient. We've got to find a way.

"They outplayed us today in all facets. They batted better, didn't lose wickets at crucial times - and their death bowling and powerplay bowling was very good."

James Anderson appeared to be bowling through some pain, including while taking two important wickets in the space of three balls, and Cook said a possible groin injury will need to be assessed.

He said: "There is a slight worry about his groin. Clearly he stayed out there; we are just going to have to assess him, probably tomorrow morning, and we'll let you know as soon as we know."