Morné Morkel

Morné Morkel is a retired South African cricketer who made his debut in 2006 and played for his country until 2018. He was a tall, lanky fast bowler who terrorized batsmen with his height and bounce. Morkel had an excellent career, taking 309 wickets in 86 Test matches, 188 wickets in 117 ODIs, and 47 wickets in 44 T20Is.

Playing Style:

Morkel was known for his high-arm action, which enabled him to extract extra bounce and seam movement from the pitch. His natural height of 6ft 5in made him an intimidating presence on the field, and he used this to his advantage by bowling consistently at a high pace.

One of Morkel's biggest strengths was his ability to maintain his accuracy and bowl consistent lines and lengths. He was a bowler who could bowl long spells without losing his effectiveness, which made him a valuable asset to any team he played for.

Morkel also had a deceptive slower ball, which he used to good effect in limited-overs cricket. His slower ball was difficult to pick because of his high-arm action, and he often used it to take crucial wickets in the middle overs.

Early Career:

Morkel was inborn October 6, 1984, in Vereeniging, South Africa. He started his cricketing journey at the age of 19, playing for Easterns Cricket Union in South Africa. His first-class debut came in the 2004/05 season, and he quickly made an impression with his pace and bounce.

Morkel's breakthrough season came in 2005/06 when he took 47 wickets at an average of 20.74 in the SuperSport Series, South Africa's premier domestic competition. His performances earned him a call-up to the South African squad for the Test series against India in December 2006.

Morkel made his Test debut in the second Test of the series and immediately made an impact, taking four wickets in the first innings. He finished the series with nine wickets in two Tests and was named the Man of the Series.

Discover Something New Every Day:

Morkel's career was full of memorable moments, and one of his most notable performances came in the 2010/11 Test series against India. In the first Test of the series, Morkel took five wickets in the first innings, including the prized scalp of Sachin Tendulkar. He followed it up with another five-wicket haul in the second innings, which helped South Africa secure a comprehensive victory.

Another memorable performance came in the 2015 Test series against India when Morkel took a career-best figure of 5/21 in the second innings of the fourth Test. His performance helped South Africa clinch the series 3-0 and earned him the Man of the Match award.

Morkel was also a part of the South African team that reached the semi-finals of the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. He was the leading wicket-taker for South Africa in the tournament, taking 17 wickets in 8 matches at an average of 17.58.

Morkel retired from international cricket in March 2018, following the four-match Test series against Australia. He finished his career with 309 Test wickets, making him the fifth-highest wicket-taker for South Africa in Test cricket.

Morné Morkel, the former South African cricketer, had a remarkable domestic career before making his mark in international cricket. He played for various teams in South Africa and also featured in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

South African Domestic Career:

Morkel started his domestic career playing for Easterns Cricket Union in the 2004/05 season. His consistent performances earned him a spot in the Titans franchise, where he spent the majority of his domestic career. He also represented the Nashua Dolphins and the Eastern Province Elephants.

Morkel's career-best figures of 8/86 came while playing for the Titans against the Cape Cobras in 2011. He was also a part of the Titans team that won the SuperSport Series in the 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons. Morkel played 108 first-class matches in which he took 411 wickets at an average of 23.97.

National Recognition:

Morkel's domestic performances caught the attention of the national selectors, and he was named in the South African Test squad for the home series against India in 2006. He made his debut in the second Test of the series and impressed everyone with his pace and bounce. Morkel finished the series with nine wickets in two Tests and was named the Man of the Series.

Morkel went on to establish himself as one of the premier fast bowlers in the world. He played 86 Tests for South Africa, taking 309 wickets at an average of 27.66. Morkel's best Test figures of 6/23 came against New Zealand in 2013.

In limited-overs cricket, Morkel played 117 ODIs and 44 T20Is for South Africa. He took 188 wickets in ODIs at an average of 25.33 and 47 wickets in T20Is at an average of 25.06. Morkel played a crucial role in South Africa's run to the semi-finals of the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, taking 17 wickets in eight matches.

Indian Premier League:

Morkel also had a successful stint in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He made his debut in the tournament in 2008, playing for the Rajasthan Royals. He was then bought by the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in 2011, where he played for two seasons. Morkel's best IPL season came in 2012 when he took 25 wickets in 16 matches for Delhi.

In 2014, Morkel was bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders, where he played a key role in the team's success. He took 17 wickets in 13 matches at an average of 20.05 and played a crucial role in KKR's title-winning campaign. Morkel continued to play for KKR until 2016 before moving to the Rising Pune Supergiants for the 2017 season.

Retirement from International Cricket:

Morkel announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket in March 2018. His last match was the fourth Test against Australia in Johannesburg. Morkel finished his international career with 529 wickets across all formats, making him one of South Africa's most successful bowlers.

After his retirement from international cricket, Morkel continued to play domestic cricket for the Titans. The cricketer announced his retirement from all forms of the sport in May 2021, thereby bringing an end to a prolific career that lasted for more than 15 years.

In conclusion, Morné Morkel was a highly skilled and successful fast bowler who made a significant impact on both domestic and international cricket. He began his career playing for Easterns Cricket Union before going on to represent various teams in South Africa and the Indian Premier League. Morkel's consistent performances in domestic cricket earned him a place in the South African national team, where he went on to become one of the premier fast bowlers in the world.

Throughout his career, Morkel impressed fans and critics alike with his pace, bounce, and ability to swing the ball both ways. He played a vital role in South Africa's success in both Test and limited-overs cricket and was a key member of the team that reached the semi-finals of the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup.

Morkel's success was not limited to international cricket; he also had a successful stint in the IPL, playing for various teams and playing a crucial role in the Kolkata Knight Riders' title-winning campaign in 2014.

Morkel retired from all forms of international cricket in March 2018, bringing an end to a highly successful career that spanned over a decade. He finished his international career with 529 wickets across all formats, making him one of South Africa's most successful bowlers.

Overall, Morkel's impact on cricket will not be forgotten any time soon. He will always be remembered as a highly skilled and successful fast bowler who played a vital role in South Africa's success in both domestic and international cricket.