‘Invincibles’ Opener Morris Passes Away at 93

To the end, Morris was a purist, saying Twenty20 cricket was not his “scene”.

Known for his prodigious talent with the willow, Morris was rated as the greatest left-handed batsmen of his era by the legendary Sir Don Bradman.

His steep rise was interrupted by the second World War and he had to wait until England arrived in 1946-47 for his Test debut.

It was the 1948 tour of England where Morris had his crowning moment, scoring the most runs as the “Invincibles” went unbeaten throughout.

His passing meant Neil Harvey is now the sole remaining member of the famed side.

Left-hander Morris scored 3,533 runs in 46 tests at an average of 46.48 and was named in Australia’s team of the century in 2000. “When Australia’s best openers are discussed his name will always be one of the first mentioned”, Edwards said. “On behalf of the cricket fraternity, the ICC offers its deepest condolences and sympathies to his wife Judith and Cricket Australia at these hard times”.

Born in Bondi on January 19, 1922, Arthur Morris was raised in the suburbs of Sydney.

He led Australia in two Tests.

His tally included 12 centuries and 12 half centuries, with a highest score of 206 made against England at Adelaide in 1951.

“We have sadly lost a cherished link with our past”, Edwards said as quoted by TOI. Morris was only 18 when he amassed 148 and 111 against Queensland in 1940-41.

That breakthrough was followed by twin centuries in the next match in Adelaide.

At the age of 34, Morris made a decision to retire from global cricket after returning from Australia’s tour of West Indies.

Cricket Australia on Saturday paid tribute to Morris, who was Australia’s 24th captain (he filled in for injured full-time captains), was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame in 2001 and had been Australia’s oldest living player. Morris remarried and he and Judith lived happily for many years in Cessnock and Erina, near Gosford.

A few days before his death, the Hon.

He was too ill to attend a ceremony at the SCG on Wednesday to officially open the Arthur Morris Gates at the ground.