Worcestershire CCC paceman Charlie Morris celebrates a decade since making his first-class debut next summer and is determined to keep on improving.
Morris will turn 30 next July but regards age as “just a number” and is aiming to keep getting better and better.
The Hereford-born player recently signed a contract extension until the end of the 2023 season after passing 200 first class wickets last summer.
He also finished as Worcestershire leading wicket-taker in the 2021 Vitality Blast.
Morris is renowned for his work ethic at New Road and, as always, will look to make the most of winter training at Malvern College.
He said: “Age is just a number. There is no reason why I can’t get better and better each year. I know the general rule of thumb is peaking in your late 20s as a cricketer.
“But I’ve had a bit of a mixed career at times and haven’t had quite as many games as a 29-year-old would usually have in comparison, and have missed out on a season or so of games.
“Are the best years ahead? I certainly can’t see why not. I hope so. My work ethic and my approach to training will not change. I will continue to give my all.
“It wouldn’t be wrong of me to say, if you look back over the last three years, I’ve had a bit of an upward trend overall and seen a considerable improvement across the board, in terms of the number of wickets I’ve taken.
“I can’t see why I can’t continue to improve and give myself the best chance to be more successful in the years ahead.
“I won’t rest on some of the success I’ve managed to have.”
Morris ended the 2021 season on a high note in the LV=Insurance County Championship with 6-52 against Middlesex at Lord’s and a maiden fifty in the competition against Leicestershire at New Road.
He said: “To play the last couple of Championship games was a huge boost, and to put some performances in, and a fitting way to end a mixed season in terms of performances.”
Morris became a regular member of the Rapids T20 side and played all 13 completed games in the Vitality Blast.
It doubled the number of games Morris had played in that format during his entire career and he responded by taking 17 wickets and often made an impact in the initial six over powerplay.
Morris said: “In the Vitality Blast, I was really pleased to play all the games and finish as top wicket-taker. I still have a lot to work on in my T20 stuff.
“I know my powerplay bowling was good this year and I know my death bowling still needs improvement and that is certainly something I am looking to get consistently better at.
“I’ve tried to get better at my white ball cricket. I’m not the finished article and I’m determined and focused to get consistently better in T20, especially at the death.
“It comes down to tweaking a couple of areas of my game in those pressure situations, and hopefully this year will give me a bit more experience under my belt in that regard.
“Hopefully I can push on, and be an asset to the club in T20 cricket next year, and help us get to the qualifying stage of the competition.”
