Morgan backs change in Duckworth-Lewis method

England captain Eoin Morgan backed a change in the Duckworth-Lewis system after rain and a revised target thwarted the team's hopes of beating New Zealand in the second One-Day International here.

Chasing 399, England needed 54 runs off 37 balls to win when play was stopped on Friday. But when the match resumed, Duckworth-Lewis was used to give England a new target of 34 off 13 balls.

"Personally I think Duckworth-Lewis will change as the game evolves," Morgan was quoted as saying by bbc.com on Friday.

"That's something that potentially could be looked at. Everything else in the game has changed."

Despite Friday's 13-run defeat at The Oval, Morgan said he was proud of his team's effort.

"The way we went about the chase, all credit goes to the guys. It's not a bad day for us, it's a continuation of the way we want to play," English skipper said.

"The guys were willing to take 398 on, throw themselves at it and have the ability to throw themselves at it. It was very entertaining," Morgan said.

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum also acknowledged England's dramatic improvement since their dismal displays at the World Cup.

"This England team are playing a completely different brand of cricket to what they've played in recent times. Both teams put up a hell of a fight and neither team probably deserved to lose," McCullum said.

--Indo-Asian New Service

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