Welcome back Morton

When Runako Morton concocted the story of a dead grandmother as a pretext to leave the ICC tournament in Sri Lanka in 2002, it appeared to be curtains for his promising cricket career. The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), realising that they were at the receiving end of a hoax, then imposed a one year ban from all cricket under its auspices.

It was yet another blemish on a career that had its share of disciplinary problems starting with his expulsion from the WICB's Academy programme in Grenada. The details of his 2001 expulsion were not given but it was rumoured that he first turned up late at the academy following his wedding and then went home to Nevis without permission.

After that, he was one of those along with Tino Best and Sulaiman Benn who were fined for misconduct on the 2002 A team tour of England.

During his absence from cricket, Morton was offered psychological counselling by Dr Linda Banks and was cleared to play in the 2003 Red Stripe Bowl even though the psychologist thought he needed more work. Morton no doubt would have been looking forward to the 2004 Carib Cup series to restart his FC career.

However, controversy was to follow him again when news broke that he had stabbed a family member following an altercation. He was then left out of the Leewards squad named for that year's tournament due to an unfavourable report given by his doctor who had continued his evaluation during the RSB tournament.

Morton, who moved to Trinidad earlier this year has started this year's one-day tournament with a bang. To him goes the honour of recording the tournament's first century, a fighting 101 not out that was instrumental in bringing the Leewards to within 20 runs of Jamaica's 245.

His talent has never been in doubt but the infractions have continuously derailed him and stalled what appeared at one time to be a certain Test career.

The ball is now in his court to sort out his problems and build on a first class career that has seen him score 1736 runs, including 3 hundreds and 13 fifties in 34 games at an average of 33.38. A continued good showing in this year's one-day tournament and next year's Carib Cup can only help his cause if he wants the selectors to once more take note of him.

Over to you, Mr Morton.