The world of cricket is in mourning following the death of Hugh Morris MBE, the former England and Glamorgan batsman who later rose to become chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board. He was 62 years old.
A Prolific Career On and Off the Field
Hugh Morris was a titan of Welsh cricket, amassing a staggering 19,785 first-class runs for Glamorgan, including 53 centuries. His remarkable 1990 season saw him score 2,276 runs, a club record that stands to this day. He earned three Test caps for England in 1991, with a top score of 44 against the West Indies.
His leadership was instrumental in Glamorgan's success, captaining the side to the Sunday League title in 1993 – their first major trophy in 24 years – and playing a key role in their County Championship triumph in 1997.
From Opening Bat to Boardroom Leader
After retiring, Morris transitioned seamlessly into cricket administration, holding several pivotal roles before his appointment as Managing Director of England Cricket and later Chief Executive of the ECB. He was awarded an MBE in the 2022 New Year Honours for his services to cricket and charity.
Dan Cherry, his successor as Glamorgan CEO, praised Morris's off-field legacy, stating he helped "save the cash-stricken Club when foreclosure seemed a possibility."
A Courageous Battle and Heartfelt Tributes
Morris had fought cancer twice, first overcoming throat cancer in 2002 before being diagnosed with bowel cancer in January 2022. His passing was announced on Sunday, 28th December 2025.
Tributes have poured in from across the globe. Glamorgan County Cricket Club hailed him as a "legend, trophy-winning captain and former CEO."
Indian great Ravi Shastri, a former teammate, wrote: "Really gutted to hear of the passing of teammate and captain Hugh Morris... You were honest in whatever you did, and did a bloody good job."
Former England wicketkeeper Jack Russell called him "one of the game's really good guys," while ex-international Neil Fairbrother remembered him as a "wonderful man of cricket."
The thoughts of the cricketing community are with his family and friends at this profoundly difficult time.
