Morgan backs IPL despite Botham criticism ahead of India clash

Sunday's meeting at Edgbaston rounds off a disappointing home season for England in the limited-overs formats, with a 3-1 one-day international series loss to India coming on the back of ODI and T20 defeats at the hands of Sri Lanka.

A perceived outdated approach from England in white-ball cricket has been a topic of fierce debate over recent weeks, with Morgan one of the country's few internationals to spend a significant amount of time playing in the IPL - widely recognised as the shortest format's premier club competition.

The tournament came in for sustained criticism from former England all-rounder Ian Botham in this week's MCC Cowdrey Lecture at Lord's but Morgan spoke warmly of the virtues of a learning experience he enjoyed during spells with the Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore.

"Certainly my experience of the IPL, I thought wonders of it," said Morgan, who will captain England this weekend as regular T20 captain Stuart Broad continues his rehabilitation from knee surgery.

"I spent four seasons playing with Jacques Kallis, one with Rahul Dravid, Brendon McCullum, Brett Lee " guys I would never have had an opportunity to play with and learn from solely playing at Middlesex, so I'm very grateful for that.

"The experience of watching the very best go about their business is huge. I think it made me a more skilful player both in Twenty20 and 50-over cricket.

"Being thrown in in those situations, playing in front of huge crowds, is awesome and a tough experience but one that holds you in good stead down the line."

A relatively lean time with the bat for Morgan has contributed to England"s recent struggles in limited-overs matches.

The collective slump was arrested with Friday's consolation ODI win at Headingley and coach Peter Moores will have the chance to run the rule over some possible new blood in the form of Surrey's big-hitting Jason Roy.

If the South Africa-born 24-year-old makes his international bow he will do so on the back of being the top run-scorer in England's domestic T20 competition.

Surrey director of cricket Alec Stewart said: "Jason has had an excellent season in all forms of the game, culminating in his deserved call-up to the England squad for the T20 against India.

"With his continued work ethic and improvement, I would hope to see him playing other formats of the game for England very soon"

Another star of the county one-day season, Nottinghamshire's James Taylor, also returns to the international fold and can take confidence from a century for Nottinghamshire on Saturday.

India will select from the same group that secured their ODI triumph, although they could shuffle the pack to give international debuts to 19-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson or leg-spinner Karn Sharma.

England recalled established internationals Ravi Bopara and Tim Bresnan to their squad, although the latter has subsequently withdrawn with a shoulder injury and will not be replaced.