Eoin Morgan

Eoin Morgan's greatness rested on a clear, uncluttered mind. He modernised white-ball batting for England, threading gaps and reverse-sweeping spin with a fluency that made field restrictions look obsolete. But his real mark was psychological: he freed an England team from the fear of failure, a cultural shift that turned a plodding one-day outfit into the most audacious side in the world.

Dublin-born, he came up through Irish cricket and played for Ireland at the 2007 World Cup before switching allegiance to England in 2009. His Test career was modest, an average of 30 across 16 matches, but in limited-overs cricket he rewired the game. As captain from 2015 he rebuilt England's approach after that year's dismal World Cup, drove them to the 2019 title in the dramatic final at Lord's, and along the way struck a world-record 17 sixes in an ODI innings against Afghanistan. He retired in 2022 as England's leading ODI run-scorer and moved into commentary, his influence visible every time England attack from the first ball.