Morris: Maynard death a tragedy

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Hugh Morris has expressed his sadness at the death of Tom Maynard, whom he had known since the Surrey and England Lions batsman was a youngster.

Morris played for the same Glamorgan side as Tom’s dad Matthew and was aquatinted with his former team-mate's son, who was born in 1989.

Maynard, 23, began his career with the Welsh county and joined Surrey in January 2011, going on to score a maiden first-class hundred in Cardiff last year, play a key role in Surrey's victory in the Clydesdale Bank 40 and earn selection for England Lions last winter.

His death has come as a huge shock and Morris, managing director - England cricket, has sent his deepest sympathies to all Maynard’s family and friends at this difficult time.

“It is an absolute tragedy,” Morris told ecb.co.uk. “I have known Tom since he was a little boy and our hearts go out to Sue and Matthew, his parents, and all his friends and family.

“Tom was an incredibly talented cricketer and he was an incredibly likeable young man as well who had the world at his feet and it is just a tragedy.”

Maynard junior was tipped for senior England honours, having played for the Lions in Bangladesh this year.

“In many respects he played just like his old man,” Morris added. “I remember playing with Matthew and he was such a talented cricketer himself.

“Matthew played for England and Tom was very much on that pathway. He played for the Lions this winter and he impressed all the coaches there. They liked him as a person and they liked what they saw as a player and to have his life cut short in this way is a tragedy.”

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