Eoin Morgan insists Test cricket is always the main priority for the ECB after fellow England captain Joe Root called for more focus on the longer format.

In the wake of England's Ashes humiliation, Root appeared to suggest that the nation's white-ball efforts have affected his Test side, calling on the ECB to 'prioritise' red-ball cricket.

Root has endured a summer to forget as England skipper

Root also demanded more matches to be played at the height of summer, when The Hundred currently takes place.

However, England's limited-overs captain Morgan seems to have hit back at Root arguing his T20 and ODI teams are not the ECB's top priority.

"People that use that as an excuse don't watch cricket," he told the Cricket Collective talkSPORT 2.

"Test match cricket has always been the priority - it's the format for our elite players.

"Obviously times at the moment have been tough down in Australia during the Ashes but they always are. We've lost the last two series 4-0.

Morgan spoke exclusively to talkSPORT 2

"It's laughable to point the finger at The Hundred. The Hundred is an unbelievable success.

"Our formats in county cricket and the Hundred, in the way they're structured, are exactly the same as Australia's.

"People need something to blame so they'll point at probably the furthest point to reality because nobody wants to say, 'You know what, we've not had the prep we'd have liked, we probably haven't played as we'd have liked, and we've lost'.

"That happens in all formats, but I stress Test match cricket has always been the priority.

"As a white-ball group, we've gone on tours and played in series at home where we haven't had our full-strength side available - that's been a constant theme for a number of years now. Obviously Test matches take priority and always do.

England were brushed aside by Australia

"For the majority of my career, white-ball cricket was an afterthought – 95 per cent of the time was spent around planning and prep for Test match cricket and then when we got to a World Cup, it was like, 'Well, if we do well, great, but if we don't, it's fine'.

"With the skill level that guys are producing now on a consistent basis, proven over a long period of time, we're considered one of the best in the world. Trust me, I'd much rather be considered that than an afterthought."

talkSPORT 2 will bring you live commentary of the first T20I between England and the West Indies this Saturday as part of our exclusive coverage of the Windies tour!