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England captain Eoin Morgan hopeful of reaching Cricket World Cup quarter-finals

Eoin Morgan is confident of leading England to the knockout stage of the Cricket World Cup, despite a heavy opening-day defeat to co-hosts Australia.

England captain Eoin Morgan has expressed his confidence in his side to go on to reach the knockout stage of the Cricket World Cup, despite an opening-day loss to co-hosts Australia.

Morgan's men suffered a 111-run defeat to their bitter rivals in Melbourne and next face the other host nation New Zealand on Friday.

With six games still to play and a top-four place in the seven-team group required to reach the last eight, Morgan is confident that his side can bounce back.

Speaking of facing the co-hosts in his first two games, Morgan told Sky Sports News: "They'll probably be the toughest two games of the group stage and we know they're a good test of where we're at.

"If we keep testing ourselves against the best sides and learning as the tour progresses, hopefully we'll hit our straps come the quarter-finals.

"But I think the senior players have got to stand up, myself included, and lead the way from the front."

Morgan was out for a duck and has scored just two runs in his last five innings.

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:England cricketer Eoin Morgan plays a shot during the fourth One Day International (ODI) match between Sri Lanka and England at the R. Premadasa Cricket Stadium in Colombo on December 7, 2014
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