Bowlers face Morton test

More Indians will be included in the Hall of Fame, clarifies Morgan

In the first of the four-match series, Morton hit 42 from 51 balls and sparkled with an unbeaten 85 in the second match to help the hosts level the series 1-1.
Morton said his focus and calm demeanour has much to do with the responsibilities that come with fatherhood.

“Something feels different, I am enjoying the game, there is a calmness in me now.

Having had my first son last November has a lot to do with my calmness.

“Now I have two children, there is no room for errors. When you have kids you want nothing but the best for them. You don’t want them to grow up making the same silly and stupid mistakes that Daddy made,” he said.

Morton said he has learnt to take criticism in his stride and try to focus on his game than worrying about cementing a spot in the team.

“Now I am thinking about taking care of business at hand and not thinking about having to make runs to get back on the team. Now I’m not even thinking about making the team. I’m not taking on the critics as much anymore. You have to deal with it but I don’t let it affect me as much as before.

Clear mind

“Sometimes I used to try and premeditate, now my mind is just clear and I think about each delivery to come,” he said.

Morton also said that his batting improved after sorting out some technical issues.

“I used to tend to fall over to the off side so I used to get trapped leg before a lot. Now I am more balanced because I am paying attention to my head movements because wherever the head goes the body will follow,” he said.

The dashing batsman said having a batting partner in devastating skipper Chris Gayle allow him to bat freely.

“Batting with Cramps (Gayle) makes it easier because bowlers are focusing on getting him out and his vibes is just relaxed.

“We have a good relationship and a good understanding, we communicate well and that comes with our friendship,” he said.

ICC clarifies

The presence of just three Indian cricketers in International Cricket Council’s Hall of Fame may have generated a controversy in the country but the game’s governing body made it clear that more Indians would be added to the elite list.

The ICC said that the list would be updated annually and would have an adequate Indian representation.

“This is not the final list. I do believe that a number of magnificent Indian cricketers deserve to be in the Hall of Fame. We will soon develop a mechanism and have plans to add more players to the list on an annual basis,” ICC President David Morgan told PTI in a telephonic interview from London.

Former captains Bishan Singh Bedi, Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev are the three Indians in the 55-strong list that includes 22 Englishmen, 11 Australians, 13 West Indians, three from Pakistan, two South Africans and a lone New Zealander.

Strangely, not a single Sri Lankan made it to the list. Morgan said when updated, the list
would look balanced.

The eminent Indian cricketers missing from the list include C K Nayudu, Lala Amarnath, Vijay Merchant, Vijay Hazare, Vinoo Mankad, Polly Umrigar, Subash Gupte, Erapalli Prasanna, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar and Gundappa Viswanath.