Morne Morkel Profile by CricketArchive

---

Player:

M Morkel

---

DateLine: 2nd December 2008

 

With the big talking point of the 2006-07 season being India's tour of South Africa, Morkel the tall lanky fast bowler used the opportunity to play for Rest of South Africa against the tourists to make a statement. On the opening day of the four-day fixture at Potchefstroom, Morkel cut a swathe through the Indian top order with 4 for 29. That showing earned him a Test call-up, and he made his debut in the second Test at Durban when Dale Steyn was ruled out, showing good application in an unbeaten 32, shepherding his fellow tail-enders, and pushing South Africa on to a score that seemed scarcely probable earlier in the match. He added three quick wickets on day three to help South Africa to a fantastic win, but missed out on the final Test at Cape Town.A stress fracture early in the Pakistan tour which followed halted the rapid rise, and at the start of 2008, his spell at Yorkshire was cut short by injury, but he bounced back to lead South Africa's attack, without ever being at his best, on their victorious tour of England in July and August, which actually followed the tour of India in March and April where his pace and bounce on those docile tracks troubled the best in business and helped South Africa square the three test series 1-1.