BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — West Indies players preparing for the upcoming Digicel Series against Australia paused from their gruelling work out yesterday morning to pay tribute to former team-mate Runako Morton who died in a car accident late Sunday. He was 33. Morton, a tough right-handed batsman, was a former captain for Nevis and Leewards Islands before moving on to play for Trinidad & Tobago where he lived with his wife and children. He last played for West Indies two years ago in the One-Day International and T20 Series in Australia.
Speaking yesterday, Darren Sammy remembered Morton as a “cricket warrior and a true team player”. Dwayne Bravo recalled a conversation he had with Morton on Saturday and noted “a true friend is gone”.
Kieran Powell, who like Morton first played the game at Gingerland Primary School on the tiny island of Nevis said he was “shocked and stunned by the tragic news”. Richie Richardson, West Indies Team Manager and former West Indies captain said Morton was a “soldier and will be missed by all”.
“A cricket warrior is gone but he will not be forgotten. He played every game hard but played fair. He was always the one to cheer up the dressing room and make everyone feel appreciated and at home. As players we will remember him as was a total team man and I will always remember him for his whole-hearted efforts,” said Sammy.
Bravo noted: “I was the person who encouraged him to join Queen’s Park Cricket Club when he first moved to Trinidad. We played together and he was always someone who would give his all and support his team-mates.
“I had a bbm (blackberry messenger) conversation with him on Saturday and he was in great spirits. When we got the news late Sunday all the players were extremely sad. It’s hard to lose someone … it’s a really sad feeling.”