Runako Morton

Runako Shakur Morton (22 July 1978 – 4 March 2012) was a Nevisian cricketer who played for West Indies in all formats of the game. He was a right-handed batsman and a right-handed offbreak bowler.

Runako Morton

Personal information
Full name	Runako Shakur Morton
Born	22 July 1978 Gingerland, Nevis
Died	4 March 2012 (aged 33) Chaguanas, Trinidad and Tobago
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right arm off break
Role	Batsman
International information
National side	West Indies (2002–2010)
Test debut (cap 262)	13 July 2005 v Sri Lanka
Last Test	30 May 2008 v Australia
ODI debut (cap 110)	15 February 2002 v Pakistan
Last ODI	9 February 2010 v Australia
ODI shirt no.	37
T20I debut (cap 8)	16 February 2006 v New Zealand
Last T20I	23 February 2010 v Australia
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1996–2010	Leeward Islands
2010–2012	Trinidad and Tobago
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI T20I LA Matches 15 56 7 120 Runs scored 573 1,519 96 3,642 Batting average 22.03 33.75 16.00 37.93 100s/50s 0/4 2/10 0/0 5/24 Top score 70* 110* 40 126 Balls bowled 66 6 - 210 Wickets 0 0 - 8 Bowling average – – - 31.75 5 wickets in innings – – - 0 10 wickets in match – n/a - n/a Best bowling 0/4 0/2 - 2/35 Catches/stumpings 20/– 20/– 2/– 48/–
Source: CricketArchive, 4 November 2017

Domestic career

A lively, often unpredictable character, Morton was expelled from the West Indian cricketing academy in July 2001 for bad behaviour[1] but continued to play for the Leeward Islands in the Busta Cup.

International career

Upon his return in February 2002, he was called into the West Indies squad as a replacement for Marlon Samuels, but he was dropped once again when he lied about his non-appearance in the ICC Champions Trophy in September 2002.

Following a stabbing incident in January 2004, he was arrested[2] but was given a third chance in May 2005 when he was recalled for the South African Test.

He was involved in a bizarre run-out with Shivnarine Chanderpaul in the third Test against New Zealand in 2006. Morton drove the ball to mid-on where Daniel Vettori was fielding and ran to the non-striker end. Chanderpaul, at the other end, initially took a few steps down the wicket but then turned and went back to the non-striker's end. Morton believed he was out, and, furious at his captain, began to walk off. However, following a call to the third umpire, it was decided that Morton had grounded his bat at the non-striker's end just before Chanderpaul, and hence was safe and that Chanderpaul was out.[3] Video evidence suggests that the umpire's decision was wrong: although Morton made his ground first, he then left it before the run-out was made, so he should have been the one dismissed.[4]

As a batsman, Morton had a reputation for hitting the ball very hard, but had problems picking up singles in between boundaries. He has the dubious record of the slowest ODI duck which lasted 31 balls in the final of the DLF Cup against Australia.[5]

Morton died on 4 March 2012, when he lost control of the car he was driving along the Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway, hitting a utility pole at Chase Village in Chaguanas, Trinidad and Tobago.[6][7][8]

References

1. Morton Expelled From Academy, Cricinfo, Retrieved 20 January 2008
2. Morton arrested after stabbing incident, Cricinfo, Retrieved 20 January 2008
3. 3rd test, West Indies tour of New Zealand, 2005/06, Cricinfo
4. Video on YouTube
5. Morton makes the record books ... for the wrong reason, Cricinfo, Retrieved 20 January 2008
6. "NDTV - Windies batsman Runako Morton dies in a road accident". Archived from the original on 19 April 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
7. BBC Sport - Runako Morton, former West Indies batsman, dies in car crash
8. "Runako Morton killed in road accident". ESPNcricinfo. 5 March 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2012.