Glamorgan to Honour Hugh Morris with Renamed Cricket Centre

Their decision comes after the cricket world paid glowing tributes following the death of the former England and Glamorgan batsman on Sunday.

Messages and memories poured in from former teammates, opponents and supporters who remembered him as both a fine cricketer and an even better person. 

Morris, who died aged 62 after a battle with bowel cancer, left a lasting impression not only through his performances on the field but also through his leadership and integrity off it.

Social media was quickly flooded with messages of condolence, many of them highlighting Morris’s character and influence during a distinguished career that spanned playing, captaincy and senior administration roles within the game. 

Those who shared dressing rooms with him spoke of a man who commanded respect through honesty and hard work rather than ego.

Morris’s former Glamorgan opening partner Steve James - now a cricket and rugby writer with The Times - led the way when he wrote: “He was simply one of the bravest men I have ever met, as well as being one of the most friendly and welcoming.”

Morris became Glamorgan’s youngest ever captain aged 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, where he was unable to make much of an impression as he averaged 19.16, Morris also led England A on tours of South Africa, West Indies and Sri Lanka.

He ended a 17-year playing career in 1997 that yielded 19,785 first-class runs opening the batting at an average of 40.29.

James summed up Morris’s consistency with the bat when he said: “When he retired I wrote a piece for The Cricketer magazine in which I said, “The biggest compliment I can pay him is to say that I was always surprised when he was out.”

James went on to pay an equally fulsome tribute to Morris as the brains behind so much success for both England and Glamorgan - on and off the field.

He added: “As an administrator Morris took his game to another level. 

“As a captain who oversaw Glamorgan’s first title in 24 years when winning the Sunday League in 1993 (he also captained Young England and England A), he had been a meticulous planner, a strategist, a diplomat and always a man with a vision, which were all vital attributes for his role as director of cricket in one of England cricket’s greatest ever periods as he established a strong rapport with Andrew Strauss, the captain, and coach Andy Flower, with three consecutive Ashes series being won between 2009 and 2013. 

“There was also a first global trophy, the World T20, that was won in 2010.

“When he returned to Glamorgan in 2013, the club was in debt to the tune of £17million but by the time he resigned in 2023 that was gone. That is some work.”

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.

“(It is) a far cry from the ground when he first played for Glamorgan as a teenager – plus a Welsh Fire franchise poised for even greater success in the cricketing landscape of the 2020s and beyond.

“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.”

Morris, who overcame throat cancer after his diagnosis in 2002, was a patron of Heads Up, a charity which focuses on head and neck cancer, and helped to raise £300,000 over an eight-year period.

He was awarded an MBE in 2022 for services to cricket and charity.

ECB chair Richard Thompson said: “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.”

Former India all-rounder and head coach Ravi Shastri, who played with Morris at Glamorgan, led the tributes on X, writing: “Really gutted to hear of the passing of team-mate 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. Respect.”

Former England wicketkeeper Jack Russell added on social media: “Sad to hear of the passing of my old team mate Hugh Morris MBE. One of the games really good guys. Will be sadly missed #RIPHugh.”

Many other tributes across social media also reflected on Morris’s willingness to give back to the game, particularly at grassroots level. 

Stories circulated of him taking time to visit clubs, speak to young players and encourage the next generation, reflecting the fact that Morris’s influence extended far beyond elite cricket.