Gros Islet, St Lucia:

Newly designated West Indies opening batsman Runako Morton says that he is enjoying his cricket much more these days and as such is playing with a free mind and without the weight of expectation.

"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," Morton said in an exclusive interview with DigicelCricket.com.

"Sometimes the expectations are so high, sometimes you try too hard and things which you wouldn't normally do, you would do because of pressure," the muscular 30-year-old right-hander said.

"Now I'm not even thinking about making the team. Sometimes I used to try and premeditate, now my mind is just clear and I think about each delivery to come," Morton revealed after an intense training session at the Beausejour Cricket Ground where the third and fourth Digicel one-day internationals will be played on Friday and Sunday.

"Something feels different, I am enjoying the game, there is a calmness in me now," Morton explained. He went to say that he believes it is as a result of the birth of his first son, Macario Obataiye Morton.

"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," said Morton, who said that disciplinary issues are a thing of the past for him.

"I have to make sure I set the right example and that my children have something positive to hold on to with Daddy. Not that Daddy is just there to provide financially but that Daddy has something more to offer than just material things," said Morton who also has a young daughter, Kamani Kalika Morton.

Dealing with the critics

And the Nevisian who makes his home in Trinidad with his Trinidadian wife, Leiselle, says that he is not paying as much attention to criticisms as he did before.

"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," explained Morton who has scored two ODI centuries and averages just over 35.

A veteran of 52 ODIs and 15 Tests, Morton said there were technical issues with his batting which he had to address in order to improve.

"I used to tend to fall over to the off side so I used to get trapped leg before a lot. Now I am more balanced because I am paying attention to my head movements because wherever the head goes the body will follow," said Morton on Wednesday afternoon at the team hotel in St Lucia.

Technical improvements

He credits the Queens Park Cricket Club coach, former West Indies all-rounder Bernard Julien, and clubmates, Dwayne and Darren Bravo for his technical improvements.

And Morton is relishing his new role as Chris Gayle's opening partner.

"Every time I opened, from since youth cricket, I always have a good time at it. I always like the challenge of opening and I don't like to wait to bat so I love opening," said Morton who has always been thought of and used on the international stage as a middle-order batsman.

"Batting with Cramps (Gayle) makes it easier because bowlers are focusing on getting him out and his vibes is just relaxed," Morton revealed.

He believes that the opening partnerships of 65 and 101 against India in the first two Digicel ODIs at Sabina Park are a direct result of their off-the-field friendship.

"We have a good relationship and a good understanding, we communicate well and that comes with our friendship," said Morton who has registered scores of 42 and 85 not out in the Digicel Series thus far.