Eoin Morgan has urged young England prospects to use The Hundred as a way to stake a claim for a spot at the upcoming T20 World Cup, pinpointing death bowling as an area England will be looking to strengthen.
Last year, left-arm quick Tymal Mills enjoyed an impressive Hundred for eventual winners Southern Brave and broke into England's T20 World Cup squad and new white-ball coach Matthew Mott has challenged players to use the tournament as a "springboard".
And Morgan believes the T20 World Cup will be a "huge incentive" for players to impress during The Hundred. "It is the closest I have ever played at domestic level to international cricket," he told Sky Sports. "Everyone loves playing it, everyone loves watching it so it bodes really well for another good tournament.
"Over the course of the last eight to 10 years, all the major playing nations around the world have had established links with limited-format tournaments that our domestic players have done their utmost to play in to better their careers and ultimately to try and learn and become better players to play international cricket.
"Last year, there was huge evidence in the talent coming through that that was certainly possible and the tournament going from strength to strength, signing bigger and better names, a lot of England players available, all the white ball players available, there is no reason why it shouldn't be.
"If the English white-ball head coach says there is, then there definitely is, so that is a huge incentive for the younger batter, bowler, fielder coming through to try and make his way into that World Cup team.
"We are not littered with death bowlers and it is an extraordinarily difficult position to fill, Chris Jordan and Tymal Mills have done it extremely well but they need back up, banging down the door and making them better cricketers and I think The Hundred can provide that opportunity as well."
Since Morgan announced his retirement from international cricket, England have struggled, losing T20I series against India and South Africa. "I think they have played against two really good sides and it is good to be tested against strong opposition pre-World Cup rather than getting there and getting smacked in the face first game or second game," he added.
"Jos Buttler and Matthew Mott have clearly recognised this as a learning opportunity to try and build something between now and World Cup selection probably in September which isn't that far away. The Hundred is as good a stake as anybody can make to try and get into that final 15."
