Where is former Proteas fast bowler Morne Morkel now?
Standing at 1.96 meters tall, Morne Morkel was able to generate steep bounce, making him a challenging opponent for batsmen.
Morne Morkel is one of the most accomplished fast bowlers in South African cricket history, having taken a total of 544 international wickets.
Standing at 1.96 meters tall, the former Proteas fast bowler was able to generate steep bounce, making him a challenging opponent for batsmen. At his peak, Morkel could bowl at speeds of 140 kph, making him an ideal partner for Dale Steyn, who consistently bowled at 150 kph.
Morne Morkel’s height allowed him to generate steep bounce with the ball
Following the retirement of Makhaya Ntini, Morkel shared new-ball duties with Dale Steyn and achieved significant success. In 2010, he took 49 wickets in Test matches, which was his highest tally in a single year and saw him climb into the top 10 in the Test bowling rankings. The following year, he excelled in One Day Internationals (ODIs), claiming 26 wickets at an impressive average of 17.65 across three series, including the 2011 World Cup.
With the addition of Vernon Philander to the team, Morkel took fewer wickets but continued to play a crucial role in supporting the team’s top wicket-takers. The trio of Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander, and Dale Steyn was regarded by Allan Donald as the best pace attack South Africa had ever produced.
In 2018, Morkel surprised many by announcing his retirement ahead of the series against Australia. He cited the demanding international schedule and the strain it placed on his young family as the reasons for his decision. “It was an extremely tough decision, but I feel the time is right to start a new chapter,” the former fast bowler stated at the time.
During the third Test of the series against Australia in 2018, Morne Morkel became the fifth South African bowler to reach 300 wickets in Tests. After retiring from international cricket, he played in the Big Bash League in Australia for several seasons.
In 2022, Morne, along with his brother Albie, was named part of Namibia’s coaching staff for the T20 World Cup in Australia. Following a brief stint as Pakistan’s bowling coach, Morne Morkel joined the India Men’s Cricket Team ahead of their Test series against Bangladesh last year.
How good was Morkel at his peak?
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