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Welshman, now in charge of delivering cricket That may be the “It has cut away the previous committees so
success at all levels. public spotlight, but it is a responsible and accountable job, it is an
there is much more to the job which important link.
“There has been a massive amount of work to was created after England’s last hammering
do, some challenging stuff but ultimately really Down Under in an Ashes Series. Instead of “The Kevin Pietersen press conference was
enjoyable,” he commented. a series of committees looking at the various very much part and parcel of the job. On a
elements of England cricket, it is now just one daily basis Andy Flower is very much in charge
“Being involved in an Ashes Series at this level man – Morris. of the preparation of the team, with Andy
is obviously very special. Strauss leading them on the ﬁ eld.
Losing the odd test match would be more
“I have been in this role now for nearly two directly laid at the feet of players, coaches “But when issues arise, that is when I have
years and in that time a lot has happened, but and selectors, but the lack of success over a to support them and take things off their
having spent 10 years previously at the ECB I sustained period time and it will Morris’s neck shoulders to let them concentrate on the main
had a head start in knowing the ropes. on the line. That would help make the 2009 job which is trying to win cricket matches.
Ashes victory that little bit sweeter.
“In some respects the very diverse nature of “Obviously something as important as KP, the
the issues you have to deal with is part of the “A lot of people assume that my role is all Board were involved with tele-conferences and
appeal of the job. about the senior England cricket team, but everything. On a daily basis I am left to make
it is very much a strategic role to sit above decisions but something of the magnitude of
“You go over to India following England that - even though the England team is a that and India, then clearly I am accountable to
wanting the team to do well and support the fundamentally important part of my role,” he the Board and ultimately they are responsible
team in any way you can and then suddenly you explained. for the game in this country.
are thrown into something which is completely
out of your control - but having to deal with “Team director Andy Flower reports to me “Taking the atrocity in Mumbai as an example,
that. and the head of selection reports to me, but I believe it was absolutely right and proper
also the head of science and medicine, all the to come back here because there was a huge
“That was particularly challenging because of research that we do, elite coach management, amount of tension all round India at the time.
all the security issues surrounding the team out the England women, the junior squads, so for
there, but also part of the job.” the ﬁ rst time everything to do with England “We collected our minds, got the best possible
cricket is under one umbrella. security advice and made some decisions based
It is occasions like that, along with the end of on that.
Kevin Pietersen’s tenure as England captain, “I think that is really important, the role is
which have seen Morris holding the sort of a vital link directly from the Board to the “Understandably there was some uncertainty
press conferences that the 24 hour news England team. amongst the players about going back, but
channels cross live to. we acted in good faith on some really good
intelligence we had which worked well.
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