West Indies opener Runako Morton has become quite a headache for the Indian bowlers in the ongoing ODI series and the batsman, notorious for his unpredictable behaviour off the field, credits his success to the newly acquired calmness.

In the first of the four-match series, Morton hit 42 from 51 balls and followed it up with an unbeaten 85 in the second to help the hosts level the series 1-1. Morton, whose career has been punctuated with quite a few disciplinary actions against him, says fatherhood has changed him.

“Something feels different, I am enjoying the game, there is a calmness in me now. Having had my first son last November has a lot to do with my calmness.

“Now I have two children, there is no room for errors. When you have kids you want nothing but the best for them. You don’t want them to grow up making the same silly and stupid mistakes that Daddy made,” he said.

Chequered past

A promising talent, Morton was expelled from the West Indian Academy in 2001 after breaching rules. The next year he was suspended and fined after he lied about his grandmother’s death and missed the Champions Trophy. Morton hit the headlines for wrong reasons again in 2004 when he was arrested for stabbing his cousin. As a result Morton has never been a regular feature in the side.

He says he has learnt to take criticism in his stride and try to focus on his game. “Now I am thinking about taking care of business at hand and not thinking about having to make runs to get back on the team. Now I’m not even thinking about making the team. I’m not taking on the critics as much anymore. You have to deal with it but I don’t let it affect me as much as before.

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