Struggling Morgan given a break by Middlesex

Eoin Morgan, England's limited-overs captain, has been given a break by Middlesex amid a form slump that has not seen him pass fifty since the one-day series against New Zealand.

He will miss three Royal London Cup matches and the Championship match against Sussex in a bid to recharge his batteries before the limited-overs matches against Australia which begin with the one-off T20 at Cardiff on August 31.

In 15 innings since he made 113 in the fourth ODI at Trent Bridge - marshalling an England record run-chase alongside Joe Root - he has a top score of 48 and has made five ducks. His only substantial innings was a century for Middlesex 2nd XI.

"Eoin has been on the go since October 2014 and is in need of a rest," Angus Fraser, Middlesex's managing director, said. "He has been working his socks off away from matches trying to find the form he wants and it has so far not brought the results he is looking for.

"We believe a week or two away from cricket will allow him to recharge and to play the cricket he wants for the remainder of the season."

Morgan had been named England captain for the World Cup just weeks before the team left for Australia following the sacking of Alastair Cook after the one-day series in Sri Lanka last December.

He endured a poor campaign during England's early exit from the tournament - making 90 runs in five innings - and there was a suggestion he would be removed as captain, but he was given a vote of confidence by the new director of England cricket, Andrew Strauss, as soon as Strauss took the role in May.

He responded with an outstanding series against New Zealand where he scored 322 runs at 64.40 with a strike-rate of 124.80 as England bounced back to win 3-2.

In Morgan's absence, James Franklin will take on the captaincy of the Middlesex one-day side.