Former West Indies middle order batsman Runako Morton has been killed in a car crash while driving, the police have confirmed. It has been reported that Morton crashed his car to a pole on the Solomon Hochoy Highway in Chase village in central Trinidad on his way home after a cricket match. Morton, aged 33, last played for West Indies in a T20 match against Australia on February 23rd 2010.
Morton made his debut for West Indies against Pakistan in 2002 and went on to play 56 ODIs and 15 Tests. He has a couple of ODI centuries to his name and is remembered for his aggressive batting style.
Morton averaged 22.03 in Tests with a top score of 70 but had a better ODI record scoring 1519 runs at a healthy average of 33.75. The highlight of his ODI career was his unbeaten 110 against New Zealand in Napier in 2006.
An unpredictable character, Morton was once expelled from the West Indies cricket academy for bad behavior in June 2001. He was later called up to the national team in February 2002 as a replacement for the injured Marlon Samuels. More controversy was to follow as Morton was once again dropped on disciplinary grounds after pulling out of the Champions Trophy squad in September 2002 by lying that his grand-mother had passed away. His career slipped further when he was arrested (though released without charge) in January 2004, following a stabbing incident.
Morton also had the dubious distinction of recording the slowest duck in ODI cricket, a 31 ball effort against Australia in the DLF Cup held in Kaula Lampur in 2006.
Wavell Hinds, former West Indies cricketer and Morton's close friend tweeted " Gone far too soon brother Runako. I will treasure the great memories for sure. R.I.P. God knows best."
Morton had represented Leeward Islands and Trinidad and Tobago in the domestic circuit. Chris Gayle, who was the captain of West Indies in the last T20 and ODI played by Morton, expressed his condolences on a social networking site.
"We lost a True Warrior W.I Cricketer Runako Morton-May is soul rest in peace! Our memories together Live On!-My Condolences to his Family", Gayle said.
England batting star Kevin Pietersen also tweeted "My thoughts go out to Runako Morton's family this morning... Such sad news!! What a lovely guy & fierce competitor!! RIP bossman!!!".
South African bowling ace Dale Steyn has tweeted that he was saddened to hear the tragic demise of Runako Morton and has expressed his condolences to Morton's family.
The West Indies Cricket Board paid tribute to Runako Morton, after the former Test and one-day batsman was killed in a car accident.
"Our deepest condolences to Runako Morton's family. Such devastating and tragic news," the board said on its official Twitter account, after the 33-year-old's death was announced.
© Cricbuzz (with inputs from agencies)
