Tom Morton has scored 77 fifties and gone on to make a hundred or more on 31 separate occasions in his run-strewn South Wilts career – but he admitted the half-century he made to help set up the Southern Premier League Cup win over Calmore Sports was “a bit special.”
It was Morton’s first competitive match back the crease in twelve months but, more particularly, since he had successfully undergone extensive treatment after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer in the Spring.
The 34-year old opening batsman/wicketkeeper, who has his eyes set on reaching 10,000 runs in South Wilts colours alone next summer, had his thyroid gland and 44 lymph node glands removed from my neck during a month-long stay in Southampton General Hospital earlier this summer.
Morton has always been positive in everything he has done and even when he lay in his hospital bed after surgery he was optimistic about playing cricket this season.
“I always hoped I would manage to get a few games in this season, but whilst that was an aim my health was of far greater concern,” he explained.
“At one point I thought playing was being optimistic, but after the last three months I just saw it as opportunity to get back doing what I enjoy.”
Morton dipped his toes back into the action in a low-key fourth team game at Shrewton a week earlier.
“I can’t say I ever really had a comeback schedule as such. I wanted to test out my fitness and see if I had the energy to be in the field for 2-half hours. It went well and the doctor was happy for me to return to playing so I thought why not make myself available for the first team ?” he added.
Reflection
Morton marked his Bemerton return by hitting a six and eight fours – his 52 off 47 balls setting up a run chase which saw South Wilts’ overhaul Calmore’s 179-4 to win by nine wickets with seven overs to spare.
He confessed he “very proud” of his comeback fifty.
“I have made bigger scores for South Wilts, but this was special in a different way. I would have loved to mark my return with a 100 but, on reflection, my fitness levels aren’t quite at that stage yet. My lungs started to burn at about 40, so it’s probably a good thing,” he smiled.
“I was happy with the rhythm of my batting, it felt normal to be out there again. Whatever the outcome of my own individual performance I was just happy to be back out there with my mates again, representing such a great club.”
Morton was eventually trapped leg before wicket by the South Wilts raised Ben Fisher, who is now at Oxford University and spending the truncated summer season with Calmore Sports.
He shared an 88-run opening partnership with teenager Jack Stearman, who went on to hit an unbeaten 60 and enjoy a near century stand with Jack Mynott, who made 53 not out.
“Jack shows great composure for a player of his age and has been rewarded with a place in the Wiltshire county squad,” Morton confirmed.
Earlier, left-hand opener Ben Johns (50) and teenager Max Bailey (55) made half-centuries for Calmore, but neither was able to push on sufficiently – particularly against the off-spin of Jack Mynott, who took 2-17 off his eight overs, the first three of which were maidens.
Calmore’s 179-4 (Matt Burton 2-29) was never going to be competitive, especially once Morton got into his stride, their total benefitting from 36 extras, the majority leg-side wides.
• South Wilts win has set up a potentially decisive League Cup West group showdown with zone leaders Bashley (Rydal) at Bemerton on Saturday, 12.30pm.
It was Morton’s first competitive match back the crease in twelve months but, more particularly, since he had successfully undergone extensive treatment after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer in the Spring.
The 34-year old opening batsman/wicketkeeper, who has his eyes set on reaching 10,000 runs in South Wilts colours alone next summer, had his thyroid gland and 44 lymph node glands removed from my neck during a month-long stay in Southampton General Hospital earlier this summer.
Morton has always been positive in everything he has done and even when he lay in his hospital bed after surgery he was optimistic about playing cricket this season.
“I always hoped I would manage to get a few games in this season, but whilst that was an aim my health was of far greater concern,” he explained.
“At one point I thought playing was being optimistic, but after the last three months I just saw it as opportunity to get back doing what I enjoy.”
Morton dipped his toes back into the action in a low-key fourth team game at Shrewton a week earlier.
“I can’t say I ever really had a comeback schedule as such. I wanted to test out my fitness and see if I had the energy to be in the field for 2-half hours. It went well and the doctor was happy for me to return to playing so I thought why not make myself available for the first team ?” he added.
Reflection
Morton marked his Bemerton return by hitting a six and eight fours – his 52 off 47 balls setting up a run chase which saw South Wilts’ overhaul Calmore’s 179-4 to win by nine wickets with seven overs to spare.
He confessed he “very proud” of his comeback fifty.
“I have made bigger scores for South Wilts, but this was special in a different way. I would have loved to mark my return with a 100 but, on reflection, my fitness levels aren’t quite at that stage yet. My lungs started to burn at about 40, so it’s probably a good thing,” he smiled.
“I was happy with the rhythm of my batting, it felt normal to be out there again. Whatever the outcome of my own individual performance I was just happy to be back out there with my mates again, representing such a great club.”
Morton was eventually trapped leg before wicket by the South Wilts raised Ben Fisher, who is now at Oxford University and spending the truncated summer season with Calmore Sports.
He shared an 88-run opening partnership with teenager Jack Stearman, who went on to hit an unbeaten 60 and enjoy a near century stand with Jack Mynott, who made 53 not out.
“Jack shows great composure for a player of his age and has been rewarded with a place in the Wiltshire county squad,” Morton confirmed.
Earlier, left-hand opener Ben Johns (50) and teenager Max Bailey (55) made half-centuries for Calmore, but neither was able to push on sufficiently – particularly against the off-spin of Jack Mynott, who took 2-17 off his eight overs, the first three of which were maidens.
Calmore’s 179-4 (Matt Burton 2-29) was never going to be competitive, especially once Morton got into his stride, their total benefitting from 36 extras, the majority leg-side wides.
• South Wilts win has set up a potentially decisive League Cup West group showdown with zone leaders Bashley (Rydal) at Bemerton on Saturday, 12.30pm.
 Jack Stearman 60 not out |  Jack Mynott tidy figures of 2-17 and 53 not out. Roy Honeybone photos. |
