Former West Indies middle order batsman, Runako Morton, died in a vehicular accident on Sunday night, hours after representing his local club Queen's Park in a match here.

Police said that Morton, 33, originally from Nevis, was the sole occupant of the Nissan Tiida vehicle that crashed into a utility pole on the Solomon Hochoy Highway in Chase Village in central Trinidad. The accident is reported to have occurred at around 11p.m. (local time).

Morton played 15 Test matches, 56 one-day internationals and seven Twenty20s for the West Indies since making his international debut in 2002. He last played in February 2010 in a Twenty20 against Australia in Sydney. 

A gritty right-hander, Morton overcame disciplinary problems early in his career to fashion an international career that yielded a modest 573 Test runs and 1,519 one-day runs. He had a highest Test score of 70 not out against New Zealand in Napier six years ago, but managed two one-day centuries, against the Kiwis and Zimbabwe, also in 2006. Morton gathered 5,980 runs in a first class career spanning 17 years and averaged a healthy 39.60 with 14 centuries. He played for and captained the Leeward Islands for a number of years before signing up for Trinidad and Tobago in 2010, after residing here for number of years with his Trinidadian wife Leiselle. 

Queen's Park's team manager Jeffrey Guillen said the club would be lending support to Morton's family throughout the ordeal. "The club is with his family throughout this ordeal and we have been in contact with his wife. The funeral has been tentatively arranged for next Tuesday because Runako would have wanted all his people around," Guillen said. "It was a pleasure having Runako play for Queen's Park and it will be a terrible loss for the club both on and off the field. He was the ultimate team player and we will miss him sorely. "The players will gather at 3p.m. tomorrow where psychologists will be trying to help them cope with their loss." Ironically, Morton had a disappointing weekend for Queen's Park, failing to score in both innings, but Guillen said the player had remained upbeat.

Ultimate team player

"He did not have the best of matches, as a matter of fact he scored zero in both knocks, but he was as usual the ultimate team player, shouting out to his teammates and urging them on to victory," Guillen said.

The Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board, meanwhile, reacted with shock and sadness at Morton's passing, describing the player as a talented cricketer with much to offer. "Runako Morton was a cricketer who was blessed with a lot of talent and had a lot to add to his contribution to Trinidad and Tobago," Azim Bassarath said. "He will certainly be missed by everyone who had the opportunity to see him play and to interact with him. On behalf of the T&T Cricket Board and the cricket community, I convey our deepest condolences to his family." 

Convenor of selectors Dudnath Ramkessoon also expressed his sorrow on Morton's demise, pointing out that he had been an asset to any team in which he played.

"He was also a great competitor who made his mark in the short time that he graced the local cricket landscape. We also express our sadness to his Queen's Park teammates," said Ramkessoon. Only last March, Morton was charged for marijuana possession and was granted bail. The incident cost him his place on the T&T team.