Morgan is up for the Test

EOIN MORGAN has four Tests against Pakistan in which to book his place on this winter's Ashes tour.

And if seats were being dished out on the plane by virtue of desire, England's silky Irish batsman would be near the front of the queue.

Morgan may be Dublin-born and raised, but his childhood days were spent watching and playing the beautiful summer game with his family.

Now aged 23, he has the chance to build on his two Test caps to date at Trent Bridge tomorrow and prove he deserves to walk out at the Gabba on November 25.

But steely-eyed Morgan remains adamant that series is not on his mind, with any talk of taking on Australia swatted away by like one of his famous reverse sweeps.

He told SunSport: "As a kid I watched the Ashes whenever they were on. Cricket was huge in our house - the No1 sport.

"My mates didn't haven't much interest though. It was all Gaelic football for them.

"But Test cricket was my dream - it was every aspiration I had growing up.

"Now I'm there, it would be nice to get some runs under my belt sooner rather than later. I'll keep my head down and hopefully I'll get some.

"I'd be a fool to think about the Ashes having only played two Tests.

"Yes, it is a huge incentive. As an England cricketer it would be the pinnacle of your career.

"But all this series against Pakistan is to me is a really good chance to go out and bat in a Test match - I'm not looking beyond that."

Par-scores of 44 and 37 against Bangladesh this summer neither proved nor disproved Morgan's ability when wearing the whites.

Morgan may have got off the mark on his Lord's debut with one of his wristy flicks, but both knocks were more watchful than the explosive stuff that has wowed in the one-day arena.

With Ian Bell out of the Pakistan Tests, but likely to return for the winter, some pundits believe Morgan to be a in a straight shootout with Jonathan Trott for a place in the top six.

The left-hander won't be drawn into any talk of such a duel - but is promising not to keep the pyrotechnics in the locker for too long.

He added: "Making my debut at Lord's was a dream. In Test cricket you can be a slow starter - that didn't bother me.

"I wanted to kick on both there and at Old Trafford, but it wasn't to be.

"But I don't dwell on it. It's just a matter of going out and playing my natural game.

"I think those other shots that people talk about come from having good basics - and when I use them will always depend on the situation of the game."

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