Morley makes impression at Bunbury Festival

Jack Morley receives his cap from England star James Taylor

Jack Morley, the 15-year-old Heywood protégé, came through his Bunbury Festival experience with flying colours, and now waits to see if he will be picked in a joint North/Midlands team to take on London East/South West in a three-day game at Loughborough in August.

Following that, a Bunbury 12 will play an MCC side – managed by former Heywood favourite Steve Kirby – at Lord’s.

The ultimate could be a place in a select Under-15 squad of 14 players to undergo a week’s tour of Sri Lanka around Easter in 2017.

In the opening meaningful Bunbury match at Radley College in Oxfordshire, Morley made 14 with the bat and took 2-35 in 10 overs as the North made 196 in reply to 258-8 by South and West.

The second game saw a victory for the North outfit, which made 200-7 and then dismissed the Midlands for 160, Morley hitting an unbeaten 21 and claiming 1-11 in 10 overs.

In the final game, the North made 219-6 with Jack’s 52 the quickest half-century of the Festival to earn an award at the Gala Dinner – even though London East replied with 221-7 for victory.

Morley said “What a week. My expectations where surpassed with regards to the venue. What an amazing place Radley College is.

“Arriving on the Sunday through to leaving on the following Friday was an experience that I will never forget, and the new friends that I met along the way will remain friends forever.

“The cricket that was on show was of a very high standard played in the true spirit of the game from ball one through to the final delivery of the week.

“Monday started with the Cap presentations for players from all regions, with former England batsman James Taylor doing the honours, followed by a short speech by patron David English before getting into the cricket.

“Going through the week I had a couple of high points on the field, a bowling return of 10-2-11-1 and a score of 52 batting at No 6, for which I received one of the major awards for the fastest half-century during the Bunbury Festival at the Gala Dinner on Thursday evening.

“It was a truly amazing experience and one that I will never forget. Now I’m hoping that it will lead to further selection for the three-day fixture being played at Loughborough at some point in August. Fingers crossed.”