Former England opener and respected cricket administrator Hugh Morris has passed away at the age of 62 after a long battle with cancer. He was widely admired for his contribution to the game, with a career that left a strong impact both on the field and in cricket administration in England and Wales.

Morris made three appearances for England, all during the 1991 summer season. Two of those matches were against the West Indies, where he played a role in helping England secure a memorable 2–2 series draw, capped by a victory in the final Test at The Oval.

After his playing days, Morris moved into administration and served as England’s managing director from 2007 to 2013. This period saw rare success, including three consecutive Ashes series wins and the ICC World T20 title in 2010. He also led England A tours to South Africa, the West Indies and Sri Lanka, while his long-standing association with Glamorgan remains a defining part of his legacy.

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Glamorgan County Cricket Club is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Glamorgan legend, trophy-winning captain and former CEO Hugh Morris MBE.

Our thoughts are with Hugh's family, friends and colleagues at this very difficult time.

🔗 https://t.co/dJhzPSkmW2 pic.twitter.com/dgJrGwNr77

— Glamorgan Cricket (@GlamCricket) December 28, 2025

Who is Hugh Morris?

Born in Cardiff in 1963, Hugh Morris was connected to Glamorgan and Welsh cricket from a young age. He was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2021, which later spread to his liver. Despite his illness, Morris remained involved in the game for as long as his health allowed. He stepped down as Glamorgan’s chief executive in September 2023 to focus on his treatment and family, after continuing to work through much of his illness.

Morris made his debut for Glamorgan at just 17 years old and went on to play for the club for 17 seasons. He retired on a high in 1997, when Glamorgan won the County Championship, marking a memorable end to his playing career.

In his final match, Morris scored a crucial century in the first innings of Glamorgan’s season-ending ten-wicket win over Somerset at Taunton. It was his 52nd century for the club, equalling the long-standing record he still jointly holds with Alan Jones. In the second innings, he remained not out at the non-striker’s end as his long-time opening partner Steve James hit the winning runs.

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Stats and Records

By this time, Hugh Morris had handed over the captaincy to Matthew Maynard, but earlier he had led Glamorgan to the Sunday League title in 1993. This was the club’s first major trophy since 1969. In 1990, at the end of his first spell as captain, he set a club record by scoring 2,276 Championship runs, which included 10 centuries.

Over his career, Morris scored 19,785 first-class runs at an average of 40.29. In 1997, Glamorgan won the County Championship with Morris playing an important role. He scored a century in the final match against Somerset and retired later that year, having equalled the club record of 52 first-class centuries.

Morris also represented England in three Test matches during the 1991 summer, including two against a strong West Indies side. In addition, he captained England A and Young England on overseas tours, further highlighting his leadership qualities.

Administration and Leadership

After retiring from playing, Hugh Morris moved into cricket administration. He served the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for 16 years, becoming chief executive in 2007. His tenure coincided with one of England’s most successful periods in Test cricket, including three consecutive Ashes series wins and the 2010 World T20 triumph. He stepped down in 2013, a day after England completed a 3-0 Ashes whitewash.

Morris later returned to Glamorgan as chief executive when the club faced severe financial difficulties. Under his leadership, the club was stabilised and returned to profit. He also played a key role in securing Sophia Gardens as the home of Welsh Fire in The Hundred.

His contributions were formally recognised when he received an MBE in 2022 and was inducted into the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame in 2024, cementing his legacy both on and off the field.