On January 5, 2010 International cricket umpire, Basil Morgan wrote to Chief Minister, the honourable Reuben T Meade and advised of his record as a crickter, and his continuous involvement in the sport.
In that letter he informed¸” At the age of twelve (12) years and eight (8) months, I began appreciating the game of cricket and spent some four (4) years as the local league scorer, as well as Primary School Cricket Umpire.”
Two years later, on January 12, 2012, Basil wrote officially, under caption: 52 YEARS AS LOCAL CRICKET UMPIRE, “I wish to inform you that I am retiring as local Cricket Umpire after serving 52 years in the Sport,” from 1960 to 2012.
The letter stated: The time has come now for me to say goodbye. That notwithstanding, in the spirit of the game, I would like to say that I am down but not out; and will continue to assist our aspiring umpires and youngsters with the knowledge of the game.
It has been a pleasure serving my country and it delighted me to see the youth grasping for and reaching toward positive objectives where the game is concerned.
I can only hope that those who are currently involved will uphold the standards of Cricket and continue to pursue the game as a lifetime career, making themselves and Montserrat proud.
In this letter addressed to The Editor Basil expressed thanks, “for your personal encouragement and support. Thank you again for being a part of my years as an Umpire,” as throughout the year and on every sport program he would include me as one of those persons he names as his mentor and/or supporter in his long career.
Basil was announcing the end of a long and distinguished career in the cricket sport, and while having played the game he is highlighted as a cricket scorer-statistician and primarily as an umpire who ascended to international level.
- In addition to local and Leeward Islands level umpiring he has officiated in fifteen (15) One Day Internationals (ODI);
- ninety (90) First Class Matches,
- seventy-seven (77) Leeward Islands Three day and One Day Matches,
- seventy-eight (78) One Day International under the sponsorship of the WICB
- four (4) Television Replay Umpire in ODI; 268 matches locally, regionally and internationally.[vsw id=”qqy1JByL4XE” source=”youtube” width=”320″ height=”240″ autoplay=”no”]
On September 27, 2012 the retiring umpire/cricketer (not done yet) as he noted his continued involvement with the development of cricket, as a curator, trainer, team management and more, was honoured by the Ministry of Education, Youth affairs and Sports at the Cultural Centre. There in the presence of friends, well wishers, supporters and sporting officials, he said he was heartened by and acknowledged the accolades bestowed on him by the speakers.
Among those paying tribute, were former Montserrat cricket captain Frank Edwards, former president of the Montserrat cricket association David Brandt, sports officer Winston Scotland, his sister Reverend Rosalyn, an ardent cricket fan. Minister of sports the Honorable Colin Riley also paid tribute to the prominent umpire and statistician.
Ag. Permanent Secretary Education Ministry, Glenn Francis presented an award to Morgan for having reached the prestigious 50-yr milestone.
Morgan recalled that among his other achievements, becoming a member of the world body of cricket statisticians and vice president of the Leeward Islands Cricket umpire association. He said at the end, that he is satisfied that through his involvement, the game has developed particularly in Montserrat over the past 50 years.
