World Cricket: Player Profile: Eoin Morgan (England/Ireland)

As England have recently embarked on a new era in One-Day cricket, I am writing a profile on one of the major players that has graced the England One-Day shirt in recent years.

Eoin Joseph Gerard Morgan was born on the 10th September 1986 in Dublin, Ireland. From an early age Eoin was capped for the Irish team, starting from Under 15's all the way to being captain of the Under 19's at the World Cup in 2005-06, he finished second leading run scorer overall.

He made his International Debut, in One-Day cricket, for Ireland against Scotland back in 2006, where he scored 99 before being ran out trying to make his century. It was the first time in International Cricketing history that someone has been out on 99 on his debut.

His first century came not long after this when he scored a ton against Canada, in Nairobi.

During this time he was spotted and started to play County Cricket for Middlesex. During his time at Middlesex, he played in the money wrecked Stanford Twenty20 conpetition, after winning the Twenty20 competition in England.

In 2008 Eoin was selceted for the England Lions, in the game against South Africa, he scored 47* as the Lions cruised to victory against the Proteas.

Eoin made his England debut in the second One Day International (after the first was abandoned due to rain), and also played in the third of the series. Morgan was not given much of a chance to impress with the bat, due to not coming in to bat until late in the innings, but was praised for his athletic fielding. Morgan played in the opening match of the World Twenty20 against Holland, but after England's embarrassing defeat played no further part in the tournament.

At the end of the English Summer, Eoin was involved in the One Day International Series against Australia. After reeling from losing the Ashes, Australia won the first five games, with Eoin one of few batsmen to emerge with any credit, including a first one-day half century for England in the fifth match, winning praise with his innovative style.

In the first game of the ICC Champions Trophy, Eoin led England to an unexpected victory over much fancied Sri-Lanka. He hit an unbeaten 62, and was well supported by Middlesex friend Owais Shah who contributed 44.

Eoin kept wicket for the first time in an England shirt in the next Champions Trophy match on the 27th of September, against South Africa, after regular wicket keeper Matt Prior was struck down by illness. He scored 67 runs from just 34 balls in England's innings.

On the 2 March, 2010, Eoin became the first ever player to score centuries for two nations with an unbeaten 110* against Bangladesh.

So far in this 2010 World Twenty20 Championship, Eoin has been England's light and also being recognised as their main player. With fantastic innings against West Indies and his native Ireland, he continued his form to get England into the Semi-Final after a smashing 40 off just 34 balls against New Zealand.

Eoin also plays IPL being brought for $220,000, he plies his trade for Royal Challengers Bangalore, alongside England team mate Kevin Pietersen.

Eoin is being backed to play Test cricket for England and with the way he is copying with the pressures of International One-Day cricket, he is being backed to move into the team in the near future.