Â鶹APP

Morne Morkel 6-by Kolkata Knight Riders-

Top 10 Sensational Facts about Morné Morkel

Morne Morkel is a bowler for the South African national cricket team. He was born on October 6, 1984, in Vereeniging, Transvaal, South Africa. He bats left-handed and bowls right-arm quick.

Morkel played in 86 Tests for the South African national cricket team after making his Test match debut in 2006.

He reached 300 Test wickets for South Africa in March 2018 and became the fifth bowler to do so. 

Additionally, he participated in 44 Twenty20 International games and 117 One Day International games after making his debut in both competitions in 2007.

Announcing his retirement from all international cricket on February 26, 2018, he said it would happen after the four-match Test series against Australia. He faced up against Australia in his final international contest in March 2018. 

He represented World Giants at the Legends League Cricket in Oman in January 2022, winning the Legend of the Tournament award. Below are 10 sensational facts about Morné Morkel.

1. He’s born in a family of cricketers

Morne Morkel 3-by YellowMonkey/Blnguyen-

The Morkels are a cricket-loving Afrikaner family. Both Morne and his older brother Albie have represented South Africa on the field. Both brothers bowl with their right arm and bat with their left.

The oldest of the three, Malan, was a cricketer for South Africa’s Under-19 team. For Southern Transvaal Country Districts, their father Albert has participated in a List A game.

2. He made his first-class debut against the West Indians in 2004

At the age of 19, Morkel played his first first-class match for Easterns in South Africa in 2003 and 2004 against the visiting West Indian cricket side.

His first five overs of first-class cricket in this match against West Indies batsman Chris Gayle, Daren Ganga, and Ramnaresh Sarwan included 17 no-balls, costing 54 runs.

However, his first at-bat was an unbeaten 44, which included a 141-run stand with Albie at the ninth wicket as Easterns produced 313 and trailed by 21.

Ramnaresh Sarwan was dismissed for 72 after being caught by Daryll Cullinan, giving him his first top-class wicket.

3. He remains the sole member of a continent-based team to have played in an ODI debut, along with Steyn

Morne Morkel bowling 4-by YellowMonkey/Blnguyen-

Morkel was chosen for the Africa XI team that competed in an ODI series against Asia XI in 2007 months after making his international debut.

All three matches were held in India, a country with few opportunities for fast bowlers. Morkel continued to take wickets, taking eight for 20.75 from the three games.

Africa XI, however, lost the series 0-3. Morkel is still the only player to have played in an ODI for a team from a continent, together with Steyn.

4. He is happily married

Roz Kelly (1976)-by ABC Television-

In October 2013, he proposed to partner Roz Kelly, an Australian sports journalist, and the two later tied the knot in December 2014. The couple has two sons.

They first connected in 2012 when South Africa visited Australia. Roz is a reporter for Channel Nine.

5. Morkel has played county cricket for Yorkshire and Kent

Morkel has represented Kent County Cricket Club in England, and he started the 2008 campaign filling in for Rana Naved at Yorkshire.

His transfer to Yorkshire was first questioned by rumors that he had participated in the second round of the Indian Premier League auction and had signed a $60,000 contract with Rajasthan Royals.

Yorkshire had assurances that he had not signed a deal to compete in the IPL, nevertheless.

Morkel’s stint with Yorkshire was cut short due to a hamstring injury he sustained when making his Yorkshire debut against Nottinghamshire. For Yorkshire, he participated in just one County Championship game. 

6. He played for three different teams in the lucrative IPL

For the first three Indian Premier League seasons, Morkel played for Rajasthan Royals.

Morkel won the Purple Cap as the Delhi Daredevils’ best wicket-taking bowler in the league’s edition after taking 25 wickets in 16 games.

He last participated in the Indian Premier League in 2016 for Kolkata Knight Riders.

7. Morkel was a major factor in South Africa’s ascent to the top of the ICC Test rankings

Victory Australia-by Reflexio-

 The disastrous England tour of South Africa in 2012 began with Morkel’s 4 for 72 in the first innings at The Oval. The Test was ultimately won by South Africa by an innings and 12 runs.

His 4 for 80 in the third Test at Lord’s meant that England’s lead was kept to 6 runs. With Morkel capturing 11 wickets from three Test matches, South Africa went on to win the series 2-0.

Later that year, South Africa went on tour and played a tough Test series against Australia, which they were able to win 1-0. Morkel distinguished himself as the hero once more. He finished the tour with the most wickets, 14 from 3 Tests, all at 28.50.

8. He has an impressive record

South African Cricket team 2008-by PaddyBriggs-

Morkel has participated in 117 ODIs, 44 T20Is, and 85 Tests. In Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, he averages 27.73, 25.32, and 25.34 respectively.

He is regarded as one of the toughest bowlers to face in all of the cricket because of his ability to produce uncomfortable pace and bounce.

He was unable to play Test cricket between January 2016 and March 2017 due to an injury.

Morkel came back, though, with improved bowling. He took 64 wickets from 14 Test matches at an average of 21.72 in his final year of Test cricket (up till the penultimate Test).

9. He retired from all forms of international cricket 

The lanky pacer stated on February 26, 2018, that he would retire after the home Test series against Australia, amidst lingering rumors that an insecure Morkel might follow Kyle Abbott’s example and take a Kolpak contract.

He mentioned his young family, foreign wife, and the demanding nature of international cricket as the causes.

Despite Australia’s ball-tampering scandal overshadowing the third Test of the series, Morkel got his 300th Test wicket and ended up winning the game for South Africa with a nine-wicket haul.

He is the South African bowler with the fifth-most wickets.

10. Morkel only consumes vegetarian food

The vegan diet that the cricketer has just adopted is the key to his success over the past several years.

Despite being referred to be a lobster because of his enormous stature and ability to put opponents under strain, Morkel only consumes vegetarian food.

It is well known that Australian pacer Peter Siddle converted to veganism at Anna Weatherlake’s urging. Australian-born Roz, who is also a friend of Anna’s, has made sure that Morkel focuses on his health.

Morkel still consumes meat, but he has reduced his consumption and switched to a more vegetarian diet.

During the World Cup, he told ESPNCricinfo, that he recently cut out his sugar intake, and he’s very cautious about what he put into his body. 

In the 2015 World Cup, Morne Morkel was South Africa’s top wicket-taker. He was also Kolkata Knight Riders’ most productive fast bowler in the 2014 IPL.