Last session will be crucial against India, says Morkel

Cape Town, December  28

South Africa pacer Morne Morkel feels the last session of the day will be crucial for the home side to inflict damage on the Indian batsmen in the three-match Test series beginning on January 5. “It’s going to be about that last session in the day when the ball is soft and conditions are tough,” Morkel said. “Majority of the runs in Test cricket are scored after tea. So for us, it’s going to be if we have enough petrol in the tank to knock India over at the back end of the day.” 

Morkel claimed his first five-for in five years in South Africa’s one-off Test against Zimbabwe in Port Elizabeth, which the Proteas won inside two days. Despite being the most successful seamer in the match, he faces the risk of missing out against India when Dale Steyn returns. If South Africa stick to a frontline attack of three seamers and a spinner at Newlands, Morkel may have to watch the action from the sidelines. Kagiso Rabada and Vernon Philander are almost certain to make the playing XI, and that leaves the selectors to choose between the swing of Steyn and the bounce of Morkel.

“We’ll have to see,” said the 33-year-old Morkel, who has taken 281 wickets from 80 Tests, about the likely team composition against India. “Dale has been bowling exceptionally well in the nets. He looks strong, he is very fit and I reckon he would have been a handful on this (Port Elizabeth) wicket but it’s another week for him to freshen up.” 

While Steyn has not played an international fixture since November 2016, Morkel has featured in all but one of South Africa’s Tests since March. Morkel missed the second match against Bangladesh in October after suffering a side strain in the first and needed six weeks to recover.  — PTI 

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