The world champions were thrashed by 10 wickets by India at the Kia Oval but the team cannot allow the result to alter their approach in white-ball cricket according to the former skipper
Ex-England white-ball captain Eoin Morgan expects successor Jos Buttler to demand the world champions continue to play an attacking brand of cricket despite being hammered by India in the first one-day international at the Kia Oval.
The hosts were bowled out for just 110, their lowest ODI total against India and joint-11th worst in their history.
Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan knocked off the target to secure a 10-wicket success with 188 balls to spare, to give the tourists a 1-0 series lead with two to play.
Buttler has now lost three of his four games in permanent charge of the white-ball teams, following Morgan's retirement at the end of last month.
"I know what this feels like," Morgan told Sky Sports. "It's not nice - you focus inwards, not outwards.
Morgan handed over the mantle in late June (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
"But, having had the experience both playing and leading previously that Jos has had, he will see this as an opportunity in that changing room to reiterate a very clear and strong message about where they are going and what they're doing.
"People will be in that changing room wanting to flinch and wanting an out, but that is the time to lead.
"You can give the best possible message to somebody, and if they're not listening it doesn't go anywhere. But I can guarantee you that when you lose, everybody in the changing room listens.
"A clear-cut message from your leader at times like this, and for your senior players to embody it, is crucial."
Morgan's tenure wasn't without stumbling blocks. From being reduced to 20 for 6 against South Africa at Lord's in 2017 to being 8 for 5 against Australia in Adelaide in 2018, there were setbacks, albeit brief, during England's run to 2019 World Cup glory.
Morgan always insisted England stuck to their guns (Brenton Edwards/AFP/Getty Images)
But throughout, the Irishman insisted that England never deviate from their attacking philosophy. And he is confident Buttler will do the same. Speaking after the defeat, the new captain insisted there was "no need to panic".
"There were a couple of times early on in my captaincy, and continued questions throughout," he added.
"I look back at Lord's, I think, against South Africa, and Adelaide where we were 8 for 5.
"Those are key moments where people are waiting to go 'let's be smarter, let's pull back in a bit'. That's not where Jos Buttler and his England team want to be.
"They want to be at the forefront of performance, winning World Cups and considered to be the best side in the world. And I think that's what he will be saying to his side."
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