Morne Morkel unhappy with Durban pitch, calls it sub-continent like wicket

Do I look like I am pleased?

Morne Morkel was unhappy with the pitch at Kingsmead, Durban, for the 2nd Test and called it a sub-continent like wicket.

Morkel was the lone wicket-taker for South Africa on a shortened Day 1, getting an edge of Shikhar Dhawan before Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara were involved in a superb partnership that helped India reach 181/1 when bad light brought an eary close to the day. India were well on top courtesy of unbeaten half-centuries by M. Vijay (91*) and C. Pujara (58*)

“I am very surprised with the wicket here. It looks like a sub-continent wicket,” Morkel said at the post-day’s press conference. “It is really dry and a little on the slower side. After the 13th over, the ball looked like it was 60 overs old.”

“But as a bowling unit we need to soak it in. We need to bowl according to a plan, only to one side of the wicket. We need to stop the flow of runs, if wickets don’t come our way. It is a good break for us, and we can go back and re-plan for tomorrow,” Morkel added.

Morkel, the lone wicket taker for South Africa was hoping for more reverse swing on the second day.

“We are hoping the ball can reverse a bit more tomorrow. We need to come out and stick to a plan and take a couple of early wickets while they aren’t settled. And then wait for the new ball,” he said.

The South African quickie who had twisted his ankle on day three of the first Test match at Johannesburg made a miraculous recovery to be fit for this Test match and praised his medical team for helping him make a speedy recovery.

“I had an MRI scan done and they said it was a grade three injury. Then we did a sonar scan and we found out it was only grade one. So I went into rehab and worked hard with our medical team. They did some magic and the swelling went away and we worked on fitness. I am really happy to be playing this match, especially since this is Jacques Kallis‘ last Test,” he added.

Kallis, who is retiring from Test cricket after this match, led the team onto the field in the morning. Kallis in fact ventured out 10 seconds before his team-mates could join him and was greeted with roaring applause and standing ovation from the crowd. He responded with raised hands and a bow with his hat.

Morkel added on Kallis playing his last Test: “It was a big shock for me. I found out two days ago. I guess he had been planning this for some time and maybe this news gave me 10 per cent more inspiration to get fit and play this match. He is a very good friend of mine and I didn’t want to miss his last match.”

It’s evident South Africa want to give Kallis a farewell to remember and to achieve that, they need to beat India at the Kingsmead where South Africa have lost all of their last four Tests.

“To be honest, we didn’t talk about the past record. We can’t control that. When we arrived here, we heard about Kallis and with how we finished at Wanderers, we were pumped up for this game. To me it doesn’t matter if we bat or bowl first, we need to make a good start. And it will be crucial what we do tomorrow morning,” Morkel said.

“I hope we don’t lose too many overs because of the weather. I hope it is a good Test and a good farewell (for Kallis),” he signed off.