Why won't Eoin sing the anthem

When Eoin Morgan, the England captain, failed to sing God Save The Queen at the World Cup, questions were asked.

Morgan is Irish, switching allegiance to England in 2009 in order to play Test cricket. Was his decision a political statement? A deliberate snub to the monarch?

According to his former mentor, the answer is more prosaic: Morgan is too shy to sing on camera.

Invited during a press conference in New Zealand to discuss his reasons, Morgan said it was "a long story" and "a personal thing", adding that he wouldn't sing the Irish anthem either.

He would not elaborate, saying only: "It's pretty simple. I have never sang the national anthem when playing for Ireland or England. It does not make me any less proud to be an English cricketer.

"I am extremely proud to be in the position that I am in and privileged to be captain of the World Cup side."

Kevin Jennings, the deputy headmaster who offered 11-year-old Morgan a scholarship to Dublin's Catholic University School and guided him through his school years, said his former charge was not political at all.

"He's a very shy fellow. I would imagine he'd be quite self-conscious singing in that context. I would say it's as simple as that. He certainly wasn't in the school choir," said Jennings, now retired, a friend of the Morgan family.

"I've known him since he was 11 and he was always very quiet and reserved. Where he was confident was going out to bat.

"I know people could read something into it, but I don't think it's political. He certainly isn't political to my knowledge."

Jennings said Morgan was always "well-mannered and polite but never an extroverted fellow. He wouldn't overdo the chat. When I see him do these press conferences now I think, he couldn't have done that seven or eight years ago. He must be coached for that."