The ECB Southern League Premier League's worst kept secret of 2018 is out - Tom Morton is returning to his old South Wilts' run scoring roots.
The 32-year old run gun led Ealing to the Middlesex County Premier League title last year, scoring a league best 796 runs for the West London club, where he was appointed Director of Cricket in January 2016.
But Morton's return to his Southampton base, which coincides with his appointment as Head Coach at Wiltshire Cricket, means he will back on the Southern Premier League circuit next summer.
He's been elected club captain at South Wilts, where he has scored close on 6,000 runs, including 17 centuries, in ten Bemerton seasons.
"It was a great experience playing and working for Ealing, especially winning the Middlesex league title last season and setting a few individual records in my time there,” he smiled.
" I’m really looking forward to the season. South Wilts is a fantastic club, with a great structure, facilities, people and winning ethos.
“I have kept an eye on results over the last couple of years and it was great to see some good performances with such a young side.
“Over the decade I played for the club we had our fair share of success, and with so many close mates still playing the club still means a great deal to me.”
But Morton won't be skippering on the field.
Lead all-rounder James Hibberd, who captained a youthful South Wilts last season, retains his position in the first team, with Rob Pittman leading the seconds.
Morton has no complaints in that direction
“This is a new era, I am looking forward to playing for ‘Hibby’, he added.
“It will also work nicely with my role at Wiltshire Cricket and it would be great to see a few of the guys at SWCC gain further county honours."
The 32-year old run gun led Ealing to the Middlesex County Premier League title last year, scoring a league best 796 runs for the West London club, where he was appointed Director of Cricket in January 2016.
But Morton's return to his Southampton base, which coincides with his appointment as Head Coach at Wiltshire Cricket, means he will back on the Southern Premier League circuit next summer.
He's been elected club captain at South Wilts, where he has scored close on 6,000 runs, including 17 centuries, in ten Bemerton seasons.
"It was a great experience playing and working for Ealing, especially winning the Middlesex league title last season and setting a few individual records in my time there,” he smiled.
" I’m really looking forward to the season. South Wilts is a fantastic club, with a great structure, facilities, people and winning ethos.
“I have kept an eye on results over the last couple of years and it was great to see some good performances with such a young side.
“Over the decade I played for the club we had our fair share of success, and with so many close mates still playing the club still means a great deal to me.”
But Morton won't be skippering on the field.
Lead all-rounder James Hibberd, who captained a youthful South Wilts last season, retains his position in the first team, with Rob Pittman leading the seconds.
Morton has no complaints in that direction
“This is a new era, I am looking forward to playing for ‘Hibby’, he added.
“It will also work nicely with my role at Wiltshire Cricket and it would be great to see a few of the guys at SWCC gain further county honours."
