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.
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| Full name | Runako Shakur Morton | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1978-07-22)22 July 1978 Gingerland, Nevis, Saint Kitts and Nevis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 4 March 2012(2012-03-04) (aged 33) Chaguanas, Trinidad and Tobago | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right arm off break | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Batsman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| National side |
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| 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: CricketArchive, 4 November 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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.
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.[citation needed] 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]