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Hugh Morris, the former England and Glamorgan batter who went on to hold senior positions with country and county, has died at the age of 62.
Born in Cardiff in 1963, Morris became Glamorgan’s youngest ever captain at the age of 22 before returning to the role later in his career, leading them to the Sunday League title in 1993, their first trophy in 24 years.
The recipient of three Test caps in 1991, when he was unable to make much of an impression as he averaged 19.16, Morris also led England A on tours to South Africa, the West Indies and Sri Lanka.
Morris ended his 17-year playing career – which yielded 19,785 first-class runs at an average of 40.29 – in 1997, signing off by winning the County Championship with Glamorgan. He then took on several off-field roles with the England and Wales Cricket Board.
After a stint as deputy and acting chief executive, Morris served as England’s first managing director from 2007 to 2013. His successful tenure included the men’s team reaching No 1 in the Test rankings, winning three Ashes series and the 2010 T20 World Cup.
Morris returned to south Wales in 2013 and enjoyed nine years as Glamorgan chief executive. In 2022 he was diagnosed with bowel cancer, which spread to his liver, and the county announced his death on Sunday.
Dan Cherry, who succeeded Morris as Glamorgan’s chief executive two years ago, said: “Everyone here at Glamorgan County Cricket Club and further afield are devastated on hearing the awful news about Hugh.
“As a player and administrator, Hugh led from the front. He leaves us with an outstanding legacy, not least a stadium here at Sophia Gardens of international calibre. A far cry from the ground when he first played for Glamorgan as a teenager. The club, Welsh cricket and the game as a whole has lost a great player, a tireless administrator, and a fine human being of great dignity and integrity.”
The current ECB chair, Richard Thompson, wrote: “Hugh Morris was a true giant of our game who played a transformative role in shaping cricket in England and Wales. He will be remembered as much by what he did on the field, as what he did off the field.
“He gave his life to cricket in a selfless and extraordinary way. He personified the values and qualities that make the game so special and Hugh so unique. From everyone at the ECB, I would like to offer my condolences to Hugh’s family and friends.”
The former India cricketer Ravi Shastri, who played alongside Morris at Glamorgan, said: “Really gutted to hear of the passing of teammate and captain Hugh Morris. Baanas, God bless your soul. You were honest in whatever you did, and did a bloody good job. Heartfelt condolences to the family.”
Morris, who overcame throat cancer after his diagnosis in 2002, was a patron of Heads Up, a charity that focuses on head and neck cancer, and he helped to raise £300,000 over an eight-year period. He was awarded an MBE in 2022 for services to cricket and charity.
