100 and history

GLENN Morley will play his 100th and possibly last game for Poverty Bay this weekend.
The right-hand batsman made his debut against Bay of Plenty on November 3, 1990 as a 17-year-old.
He will bring up the ton at the age of 38 against Waikato Valley in a two-day Fergus Hickey Rosebowl game at Harry Barker Reserve, starting tomorrow.
“I’m looking forward to the game and doing my best to help the team get a win,” said Morley, the first Bay player to reach the 100-game milestone.
“I will be trying desperately to get a big score to finish on but no matter what happens I’ll be proud to wear the ‘Baggy Blue’ cap for the 100th time.”
The accountant was out for a duck in the first innings of the corresponding game last season, but scored a magnificent 103 off 151 balls, including 18 fours, in his second turn at bat to help the Bay avoid an outright loss.
He has fond memories of his first senior rep match.
“I was picked as an off-spinner and batted at No. 11. I picked up a couple off wickets and scored 11 not out,” said Morley, who is preparing to “step aside rather than fully retire” after this match.
“If ever there was an occasion when the team were in a real pickle with player unavailability, I would try to help out if possible.”
Only two centuries behind Stu Veitch’s all-time Poverty Bay record of six, Morley said it had become apparent in the early stages of this season that his time was drawing to a close.
“My nagging foot injury has really impacted on my mobility and, as a result, my fitness and fielding levels have declined. “This has been extremely frustrating but age catches up on everyone.
“There are other reasons. The younger players in the side are really blossoming now and they are all capable of batting in the top six slots. Most are already in or knocking on the door of ND age group sides, and maybe greater honours still to come.
“It doesn’t sit well with me in the twilight of my career to be blocking opportunities for them.
“My kids — Connor (4) and Shannon (2) — are at the age where they need to see more of their dad, and it gets harder to tell them I am going away for a few days for cricket.”
After making his debut, Morley became a regular in the side.
An early highlight in his first rep season was a near outright win against Counties after bowling them out for 141.
“I took 5-50 at one end and Lance Cairns, in the last year of his career, took 5-59 at the other end. It was a big thrill and a huge confidence-booster bowling in tandem with such a legend.
“David Hair took a wonderful seven-wicket bag in the second innings and we were heading for an outright win when time was called.”
Morley’s form saw him selected for Northern Districts age-group rep teams as an offspinner.
“But knee injuries from football and cricket in my teens and early 20s hampered progression with my spin bowling, particularly the twisting action on the front leg, so I converted to a medium pacer.”
By then Morley was batting further up the order and playing as a genuine all-rounder.
He hit his maiden century for the Bay against Midlands at Taupo in February 1994.
“In the early 90s rep cricket was extremely tough and competitive,” he said. “There was not as much first-class and international cricket played back then so we were regularly playing against international and first-class players.
“This was a huge task for a small association and we received a few hidings, but every now and again we would have our day. It was a great challenge and a big learning curve, and I loved it.
“There was a different culture back then. Current or former first-class cricketers would often make an effort to take you aside for a bit of encouragement or advice over a post-match beer, which was gold for a young cricketer. It is a shame that sort of interaction between teams has gone.”
Morley left Gisborne in 1999 for an OE in England and returned home in autumn of 2005.
“I had been playing cricket in the Surrey leagues but my bowling days were coming to an end due to another knee injury, and also a new injury to a joint in my foot was beginning to surface.”
Despite the difficulties Morley continued to make big scores, including three more rep centuries.
“As a team we have enjoyed one or two victories every season since my return, which has been great, and there is clearly young talent coming through to take the team forward.”
Morley said people often asked him why he was still playing rep cricket 21 years after his debut.
“It’s down to my love for the game, the camaraderie of being in the team and the challenge that quality rep cricket provides. I have also enjoyed the additional challenge of captaincy for a couple of terms during those 21 years.”
Highlights included a few five-wicket bags and four centuries — 102 not out against Midlands, 120 against Bay of Plenty, 103 against Waikato Valley and 108no against BoP.
He rated his 90 not out “on a wet pitch” in a one-dayer against Waikato Valley as “probably my most important match-winning innings”.
The Bay, chasing 164, were teetering at 18-3 when Morley went to the crease facing a hat-trick ball.
“Other highlights are the rare victories we have enjoyed as a team and also sharing the personal successes of my team-mates.
“Playing with my younger brother Ross in the late 90s and enjoying his successes were also special. I remember the day he opened the bowling with medium pace and then changed to bowling left-arm spin on a dust bowl pitch in Tauranga against Bay of Plenty, and ended up with seven wickets. I was captain at the time and tinkered with the field placements while Ross took wicket after wicket.”
Morley said playing with Mark Jefferson — when he made his debut at 14 — and watching as he developed and went on to play nine years of first-class cricket, had been magnificent.
“He is the best cricketer to come out of this region in the past 30 years, and although an elder statesman himself these days, he is still a huge presence in the side and hugely respected by all who play with or against him.”
Bay coach David McDonald said to play 100 games for your province in any sport you have to be a player of high quality, physically durable have a passion for the game pride and loyalty in the province and people you represent.
“Players like Glenn are the glue of provincial sport in this country, who, by actions, passion and leadership have encouraged the next generation of players.
“I have nothing but admiration and respect for Glenn Morley and the milestone he has reached.”
Poverty Bay Cricket Association life member John Heikell said with a lot less games played in the earlier days no one reached 100 games.
“Bob Kennedy (Glenn’s uncle) played a long for 67 games but we didn’t play as many games back then and then you have one-day games whereas ours were two-day matches. I have no doubt Bob would have played 100 games if he had been around nowadays.”