Donald hopes Morkel gets another crack

Morne Morkel has not played Test cricket since England toured South Africa last summer. PICTURE: BACKPAGEPIX

Morne Morkel has not played Test cricket since England toured South Africa last summer. PICTURE: BACKPAGEPIX

Published Mar 6, 2017

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JOHANNESBURG - While Faf du Plessis insists South Africa need a third frontline seamer to provide control, the Proteas’ former bowling coach Allan Donald is in favour of an “enforcer,” saying Vernon Philander provides the attack with sufficient control.

South Africa plays the first of three Tests against New Zealand in Dunedin on Tuesday (11.30pm start), with Donald backing Morne Morkel, who’s missed the Proteas’ last eight Tests, to start. That despite Wayne Parnell and Duanne Olivier, producing impressive performances against Sri Lanka at the Wanderers. Parnell picked up six wickets in that match and Olivier, who’s worked closely with Donald at the Knights this season, five on his debut.

Donald, who was the Proteas' bowling coach the last time they toured New Zealand in 2012, said he had a long chat with Morkel before this year’s tour and was struck by how excited the lanky quick was about playing Test cricket again. “He looked fresh to me, I hope he gets a good crack over there,” said Donald.

Morkel last played a Test over a year ago against England, having been sidelined by a back ailment and only recently featured in back-to-back one-day games for his franchise the Titans, in which he bowled 16.5 overs. 

Accounts out of New Zealand, where Morkel and the rest of the Test team have been preparing for the series, suggest he’s been bowling with good pace. “It doesn’t matter the pitch, whether it’s low and slow, he’ll get bounce out of it, he provides an extra dimension,” said Donald.

While Morkel does have a tendency to leak runs and there is sure to be some rustiness following a long lay-off, the wicket-taking threat the 71-Test veteran provides would enhance the South African attack against a New Zealand batting line-up that contains a few players who struggled in the one-day series.

The SA selectors have certainly provided Du Plessis and Russell Domingo with sufficient options as far as the attack is concerned, with six seam bowlers included in the 16-man squad. That leaves open the possibility of an all-seam attack, though Donald doesn’t believe New Zealand’s groundsmen will provide anything near the sort of conditions in which that option will be utilised.

“I can’t see them playing on pitches with sideways movement... our bowlers will have to have a hell of a lot of patience and skill... attitude will also be important in getting 20 wickets,” said Donald.

Although he’s backing Morkel to start at the University Oval, Donald said he’s also been impressed with Olivier’s performances and that in the case of an injury, he should be the next one in for the Proteas. “I like to judge any fast bowler by how they come back for that third spell late in the day, and in Duanne’s case there was always good energy and pace with those spells. When I compared him to some of the other young bowlers (I saw), that’s what stood out for me,” he said.

Olivier picked up 52 wickets and along with new-ball partner Marchant de Lange was central to the Knights’ triumph in the Sunfoil Series. “His skill is outstanding, he’s got the right stuff, his attitude is amazing, he really wants it, he asks the right questions. Duanne excites me a lot I like what he brings to the table and I guess in this SA attack, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second to include him in the starting team if there was an injury.”

There’s talk of a spinning track in Dunedin - and with New Zealand including Jeetan Patel in their squad - it would seem logical for South Africa to stick with what’s worked well for them most of this season, three seamers and Keshav Maharaj as the spinner.

SA Test squad

Stephen Cook, Dean Elgar, Hashim Amla, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis (capt), Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Wayne Parnell, Duanne Olivier, Theunis de Bruyn, Heinrich Klaasen

The Star

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