Highly respected figure in Scottish cricket

Died: April 25, 2023

Morison Zuill, who has died aged 86, was a top class cricketer and excellent golfer who also enjoyed a successful career away from the sporting arena as a chartered accountant.

In cricket he was most closely associated with the Stenhousemuir Club whom he served with distinction over a long period in various guises: player for some 35 years and 30 consecutively as captain, vice president and honorary president. After retiring as captain he passed the baton to son Douglas who succeeded him.

A quality opening batsman and accomplished fielder, Morison also represented Scotland 20 times including five non-cap matches over 17 years and was a well-known, highly respected figure in Scottish cricket.

On the golf course he was a scratch player, a member of the Glenbervie Club and of the Royal and Ancient Club of St Andrews. He represented Glenbervie in inter-club competitions and was also selected to play for Stirlingshire. On several occasions he competed in the Scottish and British Amateur Championships, while with brother Stewart and teammates won the prestigious Halford Hewitt annual public schools old boys championship three times for Merchiston Castle School.

In business he held a number of positions as company accountant including posts with United Glass in Bridge of Allan and the Falkirk-based family business of Zuill and Stewart.

Andrew Morison Zuill was born in Falkirk to parents Ian and Jessie, the eldest of three children, brother to Stewart and Alison. His father was a master draper who ran the family outfitters business. Initially, Morison attended primary school at Falkirk High before going to a prep school, Croftinloan in Pitlochry, and then to Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh between 1951 and ’56. There his sporting talent came to the fore as captain of the 1st XI and member of the rugby 1st XV while he also played for the Fives team.

On leaving school he undertook a C.A. apprenticeship with Wallace and Sommerville in Edinburgh and began playing cricket for Stenhousemuir, featuring in East League winning teams of 1955 and ’56. Within two years he was appointed captain aged 21 and would continue in that role till 1988, leaving a huge imprint on the club.

When Morison began at The Tryst, it was a relatively small fairly low-key outfit but thanks largely to his input along with others, the club became a significant player on the Scottish scene over the following decades as under his captaincy it accumulated six East of Scotland League titles, two Scottish Cups and five Masterton Trophies. He set a career club record of scoring 27,588 runs including 18 centuries and snaring 466 catches as short leg fielder, an impressive figure for a non-wicket keeper.

Given his excellent form it was no surprise that international recognition followed. He made his first class Scotland debut in 1962 against Warwickshire with his final appearance coming in 1979 against the touring Sri Lankans. During his long international career opponents also included the touring New Zealanders, the Australians, and the M.C.C. while his highest score was an innings of 62 against Ireland in 1968. On retiring from the international scene he was appointed a national selector.

As a batsman Morison was an accomplished technician whose excellent temperament and powers of concentration made him difficult to dislodge at the crease. His fielding was of the highest class while as captain he excelled as a tactician and leader who fostered a strong team spirit.

Although an excellent golfer, cricket was his priority during the summer and had the sports not clashed he probably would have achieved more on the links. One memorable Saturday he played a semi-final tie in the Eden Trophy at St Andrews in the morning before hot footing it across to Edinburgh to play Heriot’s at cricket. In the Halford Hewitt Cup held in Kent with some matches played over regular Open venue, Royal St George’s, he won three times with brother Stewart in 1970, ’76 and ’87 and was losing finalist in 1965 and 2000, a notable achievement.

On 17th March 1962 he married Susan Murdoch in Falkirk Old Parish Church with whom he enjoyed 61 years of happy marriage during which they had three sons, Douglas, Donald and Graham. After qualifying as C.A., Morison was financial accountant with United Glass between 1960 and ’72, then with the family business till 1986 before working in similar posts with Johnston Press and the Institute of the Faculty of Actuaries.

He and his wife were long-term members of Falkirk Bridge Club and of the Stirling and the Scottish Decorative and Fine Arts Societies where they pursued their interest in classical music, opera and art, travelling widely in that connection.

Morison was a very competitive individual as a sportsman but off the field was a friendly, quick-witted gent with an excellent dry sense of humour. He is survived by his wife, sons, brother and sister.

JACK DAVIDSON