Chris Morgan is set to make his first tentative step back into the local cricket arena after missing the entire 2022 ECB Southern Premier League season after a left knee reconstruction.
He hasn’t played since leading Havant to Twenty20 Cup final glory at the Ageas Bowl in September 2021, so Saturday’s pre-season friendly against Southampton University will be a significant benchmark on his road to recovery.
He says: “I'm feeling fit and strong - I've worked hard with rehab and conditioning and am absolutely buzzing to get back out on the field and play cricket, can't wait to pull on the maroon and have some fun!
“I'm a little nervous and anxious about it but I'm sure that'll go pretty quickly once the game starts.”
It’s certainly been a long and hard haul for Morgan, who has been a significant player for Havant, both as a batsman and left-arm spin bowler since making his SPL bow in 2009, while he was still at Portsmouth Grammar.
He’s closing in on 5,000 runs for the club and already has over 300 wickets under his belt.
“In the past 12 months, I’ve been seeing Wayne Devonald on a weekly basis – he’s done a great job to get my knee working - and Niall Flynn, who did my surgery. Both are top guys, very knowledgeable and care massively about the people they see.
“I got into good place by the end of last summer but had more surgery in October 2022 to remove a screw and some scar tissue.
Responsibility
“Given the additional surgery and work commitments I decided to stand down as Havant captain to focus on getting myself fit and getting back to enjoying playing cricket, without the additional responsibility.
“Ben Walker was a natural choice to replace me. He’s a leader, vastly experienced, a top player, and I know he'll do a cracking job carrying on from a successful campaign last year when we finished fifth and carried off the T20 for a third year running.”
Getting back into cricket mode has been far from straightforward, as Morgan explains.
“I had my first net at Dummer Cricket Centre – the first ball I bowled was a full bunger, the second hit the roof of the net, the third was another full bunger and the fourth just about landed!
“I've had a couple of nets since, not as much as I'd like but c'est la vie”
“Bowling has come back more naturally - it's a game of building confidence in putting force through the knee and it's coming along nicely.
“Batting is more challenging, picking up line and length being less natural and even medium pace feels express!
“I'm sure it'll come back quickly as I get more time in nets and at the crease.
“Fielding? I think I'm ready to let the nippers do the hard yards and I'll settle in the grabbers or somewhere nearer the bat.
“The knee has reacted well to it all though which is a huge positive - the nervousness comes from doing it in a competitive setting and on grass, but it couldn't be stronger and I need to get through that mental barrier.”
Everyone will wish the popular Havant all-rounder well in his comeback on Saturday.
* Morgan's comeback could hardly have gone much better. He took 5-25 off 9.3 overs as SU were dismissed for 101 (Matty Hayward 3-25). Pete Hopson hit 41 not out to steer Havant to an easy eight-wicket win.
He hasn’t played since leading Havant to Twenty20 Cup final glory at the Ageas Bowl in September 2021, so Saturday’s pre-season friendly against Southampton University will be a significant benchmark on his road to recovery.
He says: “I'm feeling fit and strong - I've worked hard with rehab and conditioning and am absolutely buzzing to get back out on the field and play cricket, can't wait to pull on the maroon and have some fun!
“I'm a little nervous and anxious about it but I'm sure that'll go pretty quickly once the game starts.”
It’s certainly been a long and hard haul for Morgan, who has been a significant player for Havant, both as a batsman and left-arm spin bowler since making his SPL bow in 2009, while he was still at Portsmouth Grammar.
He’s closing in on 5,000 runs for the club and already has over 300 wickets under his belt.
“In the past 12 months, I’ve been seeing Wayne Devonald on a weekly basis – he’s done a great job to get my knee working - and Niall Flynn, who did my surgery. Both are top guys, very knowledgeable and care massively about the people they see.
“I got into good place by the end of last summer but had more surgery in October 2022 to remove a screw and some scar tissue.
Responsibility
“Given the additional surgery and work commitments I decided to stand down as Havant captain to focus on getting myself fit and getting back to enjoying playing cricket, without the additional responsibility.
“Ben Walker was a natural choice to replace me. He’s a leader, vastly experienced, a top player, and I know he'll do a cracking job carrying on from a successful campaign last year when we finished fifth and carried off the T20 for a third year running.”
Getting back into cricket mode has been far from straightforward, as Morgan explains.
“I had my first net at Dummer Cricket Centre – the first ball I bowled was a full bunger, the second hit the roof of the net, the third was another full bunger and the fourth just about landed!
“I've had a couple of nets since, not as much as I'd like but c'est la vie”
“Bowling has come back more naturally - it's a game of building confidence in putting force through the knee and it's coming along nicely.
“Batting is more challenging, picking up line and length being less natural and even medium pace feels express!
“I'm sure it'll come back quickly as I get more time in nets and at the crease.
“Fielding? I think I'm ready to let the nippers do the hard yards and I'll settle in the grabbers or somewhere nearer the bat.
“The knee has reacted well to it all though which is a huge positive - the nervousness comes from doing it in a competitive setting and on grass, but it couldn't be stronger and I need to get through that mental barrier.”
Everyone will wish the popular Havant all-rounder well in his comeback on Saturday.
* Morgan's comeback could hardly have gone much better. He took 5-25 off 9.3 overs as SU were dismissed for 101 (Matty Hayward 3-25). Pete Hopson hit 41 not out to steer Havant to an easy eight-wicket win.
