FORMER Beckenham and Kent batsman Robert John Morris has died at his home near Harrow in Middlesex, aged 81.

A right-handed batsman and occasional off-spinner, Morris made two appearances for Kent in 1950, but scored only 26 runs at a disappointing average of 8.66.

He was a former cricket captain at Blundell's School and was awarded his Blue as a freshman at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, in 1949 scoring 96 against Sussex at Fenner's on his University debut.

Although he made nine further appearances for Cambridge, Morris was unable to claim a regular place in the side once Peter May and David Sheppard also arrived to study in Cambridge.

In all first-class cricket Morris scored 778 runs at an average of 22.88 and hit 500 runs for Kent 2nd with a top score of 108 not out against Wiltshire at Trowbridge in 1949. He played club cricket for Beckenham and Band of Brothers.