All-rounder Albie Morkel’s return to the international fold saw him, ironically, step in as the most experienced paceman of the Proteas’ attack.
Kyle Abbott is still making his mark in international cricket, and Chris Morris is also on the comeback trail.
As for the youngest member of the Proteas attack, Kagiso Rabada has already entranced Morkel.
“I was saying to Faf (du Plessis) the other day in training about how excited I am about Kagiso.
“I have never played with him before (Monday night) but in 16 years of my career, I have never seen a young bowler like that,” Morkel purred.
“I saw Dale Steyn coming through, but as a 19 year-old, Kagiso is something else. He has great height, a lot of pace – he went over 150km (on Monday). He is just a fantastic prospect for South Africa, and as long as injuries stay away from him, he will definitely win many games for this country.”
“He is just a special talent, you know? You just can’t coach what he has got.”
High praise indeed, but Morkel is not the only one to be excited by what promise Rabada has shown. Having taken some tap in the opening T20 international, he pulled his length back a touch and became a different beast altogether on Monday night.
And once he was done, the likes of Morkel mopped up the pieces.
Indeed, the ‘older’ Morkel brother wouldn’t have dreamed of the comeback he enjoyed in Proteas colours, where he helped himself to three wickets in a series-clinching performance by the tourists.
As he sat with the Man of the Match award that he earned on the occasion of his 50th appearance in T20 Internationals, the Titans all-rounder was refreshingly honest about what it meant to be back in the big time.
“I am just grateful. A few months ago, there is no way I would have thought I would be back playing for my country. But I will remember this day forever,” he said of his night in Cuttack.
The vagaries of the game have also taught Morkel that the sun doesn’t shine all the time. Inevitably, there will be the good days, like Monday night. But there will also be the dark times, which he has gone through during 18 months in the international wilderness.
“I will take the Man of the Match but, to be honest, I am just happy to play a small part in the success. I know that tomorrow it will be someone else’s turn.”
Morkel was very nearly in the disposal bin for the Proteas, but a peculiar set of circumstances – and some fine form – has seen him make his mark again. And just in time for the run-in to the T20 showpiece event, which will be played in India, where he has enjoyed plenty of success with the Chennai Super Kings.
“It is really satisfying to be back but I would never sit here and say that I should have been playing a lot more. I have had a very good pre-season with the Titans, and put in a lot of hard work,” he added.
The work is evidently paying off, and the stronger, more resilient Morkel would love nothing more than getting a decent hit out during tomorrow’s final match of the series in Kolkata.
That would put the cherry on top of what has been a happy reunion thus far. - The Star