Change of England white-ball captain a ‘natural shift’, Reece Topley claims

Eoin Morgan stepped down at the end of June having led the team for seven-and-a-half years

Reece Topley claimed career-best figures (Zac Goodwin/PA) (PA Wire)

Reece Topley believes the shift from Eoin Morgan’s tenure as England white-ball captain to his successor Jos Buttler has been a seamless transition.

Morgan stepped down at the end of June having held the role for seven-and-a-half years, including leading them to their maiden men’s World Cup victory in 2019.

Under Morgan, both the one-day international and Twenty20 sides reached number one world rankings but since he announced his retirement from England duty they were beaten in the T20 and ODI series by India before drawing 1-1 with South Africa after the decider was washed out.

Ben Stokes has also stepped away from the 50-over game after feeling he could no longer play to his best across all three formats.

However, despite post-Morgan results, Topley believes it has been no different for the squads, ahead of the upcoming three-match T20 series against the Proteas.

“I think it’s quite a natural shift actually because in limited games for England I’ve actually played under Jos as a captain when Morgs (Morgan) was injured or whatever, so it’s actually almost like a seamless transition into it,” the Surrey left-armer said.

“The changing room is very similar as well, so I don’t think it’s too much about a change in feel around the changing room it’s almost like more of the same.

“Obviously there’s some guys that are at the start of an ODI career that have just come into the team as well but it’s not a case of a rebuild or a different feel in the changing room, just more of the same and hopefully we get some series wins because I know that Jos will be keen to get his first as a skipper.”

England’s white-ball players have three T20 internationals against the Proteas before heading into The Hundred, a rare opportunity to focus on one format, ahead of the T20 World Cup in October.

I suppose it is a block of T20 coming up and I suppose it's good in that you can hone your skills and you don't have to change between formats

Reece Topley

Topley believes the schedule bodes well for the players, and for the upcoming tournament in Australia.

“I suppose it is a block of T20 coming up and I suppose it’s good in that you can hone your skills and you don’t have to change between formats,” the 28-year-old said.

“I think it’s just good tactically for yourself as a cricketer, physically and even mentally, you’re just more clear in your mind about what you’ve got coming up and I think it only bodes well, to be honest.”