England captain Eoin Morgan heads back to the dressing room after losing his wicket during the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup match between England and Scotland at Hagley Oval

Outspoken broadcaster Piers Morgan took aim at Dublin-born England cricket captain Eoin Morgan despite the fact that he orchestrated a win over Scotland at the Cricket World Cup.

Opener Moeen Ali's second one-day international century ensured that any threat of a slip-up - in a match that loomed as a potential banana skin - was quickly averted and helped settle an England side shaken by heavy back-to-back defeats to start their tournament.

England's next move is to return to the scene of their humiliation at the hands of New Zealand with their next match against Sri Lanka in Wellington on Sunday.

They will fly back to the New Zealand capital with a greater deal more confidence, albeit having beaten a Scotland side still searching for a first-ever World Cup win, after sticking with the same team that were blitzed by the Black Caps.

Very disappointed in @Eoin16 too. Doesn't demand his best team & doesn't change a single player after THAT defeat? Weak. — Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) February 22, 2015

Piers Morgan, whose father is from Offaly, questioned his namesake's decision to stick with the same line-up that was battered by New Zealand last week.

He also questioned why the English captain wasn't singing the National Anthem before the game began.

And if you want to captain England, @Eoin16 - then sing the damn national anthem, too. — Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) February 22, 2015

I'm Irish, but if I made myself available to play for England at any sport, I'd sing the English national anthem. End. — Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) February 22, 2015

Sportsmen can't wait to accept honours from the Queen & be paid with notes featuring her head, but don't want to sing the anthem. Wrong. — Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) February 22, 2015

Match of the Day presenter and former England international Gary Lineker jumped to the defence of Eoin Morgan.

He tweeted: "Not everyone is comfortable singing. Some do, some don't. Doesn't alter performance."

Online Editors