Alex Morris played in Glamorgan’s first-ever match in 1889, with the game against Warwickshire at the Arms Park being the first of thirteen appearances which the stalwart from the days of the South Wales Cricket Club and the earlier Glamorganshire club made in Minor County matches.
Born in Cardiff and raised in Penarth, Alex’s sporting instincts were nurtured at Cowbridge Grammar School. Indeed, it was whilst a teenager at the famous school in the Vale of Glamorgan that he was chosen to appear for the Bute Household XXII against the All-England XI in 1874, before the following year playing for Glamorganshire against Breconshire in their matches at both the Arms Park and Brecon.
Alex’s father, John, was a leading solicitor in mid-Victorian Cardiff with a practice in Angel Street, close to where the Cardiff Arms was situated. After Alex had completed his legal training he took over the practice, besides playing for the South Wales CC, the MCC and captaining Cardiff CC during 1890 and 1891. His Tory affiliations and membership of the MCC also meant that Alex was a fitting choice as one of Glamorgan’s captains in 1890. A dashing left-handed batter his finest innings in county colours came in 1890 at the Arms Park as he came within nine runs of posting a century against Monmouthshire.
When his playing days were over Alex maintained his interest in the county’s affairs by serving on the Glamorgan committee, whilst his solicitor’s practice at 10 Park Place, went from strength to strength. His close contacts with the Bute Estate not only helped his business thrive but, in later life, they also helped both Cardiff CC and Glamorgan CCC as Alex became a valued source of advice as a contingent from the cricket clubs negotiated the regular use of the Arms Park as well as improvements to the ground’s facilities.
Alex continued working into his early seventies and the week before his death in late November 1927 he was active in the Glamorgan Assizes.
MORRIS, Alexander William.
Born – Cardiff, 12 April 1857.
Died – Cardiff, 28 November 1927.
Batting and Fielding Record
| M | I | NO | RUNS | AV | 100 | 50 | CT | ST | |
| MC Championship | 1 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 19.00 | – | – | – | – |
| MC Friendlies | 12 | 22 | 1 | 314 | 15.00 | – | 1 | 7 | – |
Bowling Record
| Balls | M | R | W | AV | 5wI | 10wM | |
| MC Friendlies | 15 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 7.00 | – | – |
Career-best performances
Minor County Championship – 19 v Wiltshire at Cardiff Arms Park, 1897.
Minor County Friendlies – 91 and 2/14 v Monmouthshire at Cardiff Arms Park, 1890.