Cricket World Cup 2023: England's Chris Woakes and Matthew Mott deny 'unsettled' claims by ex-captain Eoin Morgan

ICC Cricket World Cup highlights: England beaten by India in latest capitulation

England coach Matthew Mott and all-rounder Chris Woakes have denied suggestions by former captain Eoin Morgan that dressing room issues are behind their poor World Cup results.

Morgan, who led the team to 2019 World Cup success, said his former side were "definitely unsettled".

Asked about those comments, Mott said: "I don't think that at all. We're an incredibly tight-knit unit."

Woakes added: "We're all working hard together, there's no cliques."

Holders England are bottom of the 10-team table after losing five out of their six matches so far, with their latest defeat a 100-run thrashing by hosts India in Lucknow on Sunday which puts them on the brink of elimination.

Speaking before the India loss, Morgan told Sky Sports he had "never come across a sports team that has underperformed like this England team" and morale must be the "lowest that it's been for a considerable period of time".

"There's something within the team that is definitely unsettled," added the 37-year-old, who retired from international cricket in June 2022.

"I haven't been impressed at all really. And I don't wash with the idea of every player being out of form. I think that is an unacceptable excuse. That is an unrealistic get out or throwaway comment. I think there's something else going on - there has to be."

Responding to Morgan's comments at a news conference after the game Mott, who led the white-ball team to T20 World Cup success in his native Australia last year, said: "I can only say from my opinion the group's been incredibly strong.

"Eoin's entitled to his opinion and he's obviously been away for a couple of weeks with the birth of his child. He hasn't been in and around the rooms.

"I'll certainly take that up with him and have a chat to him. We've got a really good relationship with him so if he's seeing something I'm not I'll definitely have that conversation."

Woakes said the players may have been guilty of "trying too hard" but dismissed talk of problems behind the scenes.

"I can firmly say that there is nothing wrong with the dressing room," the 34-year-old told BBC Test Match Special.

"We're all still together. When you are on a tour of India, you spend a lot of time together and this group is certainly behind each other. That is the case.

"It's hard to put your finger on it, if we knew what the answer was, we'd be doing it and we'd be playing a lot better than we are."

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