Published: Mar 23, 2018, 06:26 PM (IST)
Edited: Mar 23, 2018, 06:26 PM (IST)
Morne Morkel became the fifth South African to take 300 Test wickets. In doing so, he joined fellow countrymen and yesteryear greats Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini and Allan Donald and current teammate Dale Steyn. Morkel reached the personal milestone on Day Two of the Cape Town Test. He got rid of Shaun Marsh (26) by getting an edge off his blade. He had earlier dismissed Usman Khawaja and skipper, Steven Smith. Morkel has now moved onto the 32nd spot on the all-time list of wicket-takers. Pollock (421) tops the list among South Africans, closely followed by Steyn (419). However, the way Kagiso Rabada is coming up, it will be surprising if his name does not feature close to the top in future.
Morkel made his debut against India at Durban, in 2006-07, but it was really in 2010 when he took 49 wickets at 24. He continued to form a dangerous new-ball pair with Steyn. However, with Vernon Philander also arriving on the scenario, Morkel’s importance as Steyn’s partner began to diminish. However, Steyn’s injuries gave him ample scope to continue alongside Philander and Rabada, and in 2017 he found his mojo, claiming 39 wickets at 23. He has had another excellent three months in 2018, but this is unfortunately going to be his last series.
