Morgan calls for Root, Stokes to rejoin England’s ODI squad for Pak-hosted Champions Trophy

Former England captain Eoin Morgan has called for the return of Joe Root and Ben Stokes to England's white-ball squad ahead of the Champions Trophy in Pakistan next year. 

Both players last featured in the 2023 ODI World Cup, where England's title defense ended with an early group-stage exit. Though they are missing from the upcoming three-match ODI series against the West Indies, Morgan believes they remain crucial for future success.

Stokes missed England's recent 3-2 ODI series loss to Australia due to injury, while Root was rested between Test series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Additionally, England had to do without key players like Mark Wood and Jos Buttler, with Harry Brook stepping in as captain for Buttler.

"At the moment, I'm happy to back the younger players. In the recent series against Australia, they found a template. Australia, you have to commend how good they are at the moment in all formats of the game. But when you put them up against a side that, at stages, didn't have [Jofra] Archer, no Wood, Stokes and Root as well, no Buttler, that's half your England team.

"The run chase at Durham, when Harry Brook scored that magnificent hundred and then just went on to find his feet as captain… the template that they found in that game, I thought, is one that really suits the players that they've selected. I would encourage them to continue with that template and look ahead to the Champions Trophy," Morgan said.

England has just six more ODIs before the Champions Trophy: three in the West Indies later this month and three more in India in early February. Morgan sees the upcoming series as a chance for younger players to prove themselves but emphasized that white-ball coach Brendon McCullum should recall experienced players like Stokes and Root ahead of the major tournament.

"Ben Stokes has already said that he hasn't had the call yet from Baz as to whether he will play or not. If that call comes, obviously he would love to play. In my eyes, they've got to come into a major world tournament and look to win it, and that means trying to find the best team - and for me, Stokes and Root are in that best team," Morgan said.

Morgan added that the West Indies and India series present a valuable opportunity for younger players to stake their claim but warned that their chances could be short-lived if the senior stars return.

"The younger players playing in the upcoming series against the West Indies, and then coming here [India] in February, the opportunity is there in front of your face. And that opportunity can be quickly taken away when those big names come back," he concluded.