Publications
Partners
Cape Town - Arguably South Africa’s most-travelled and most experienced T20-player and a decorated Protea in both One Day Internationals and T20-matches, Albie Morkel, has returned after a three-match injury lay-off, and has endorsed the Proteas as one of the two favourites to win the Cricket World Cup.
Morkel has represented South Africa in 58 ODIs and 49 T20-Internationals, and has played in 267 T20-matches globally.
Also read: AB likely to miss Centurion
The 33-year old allrounder is part of The Unlimited Titans squad for the second half of the Momentum One Day Cup competition. The Hennops River-team will clash with the Chevrolet Knights on Friday.
“I’m 70 percent fit to bowl, but I have played in four games since my return from ankle surgery and rehabilitation and I’ve scored three half-centuries. I’m extremely hungry to play cricket again. My last game was in the Indian Premier League seven months ago,” said a determined Morkel.
“The South African team that walked onto the park in East London, is our strongest unit, and I expect them to feature regularly at the World Cup,” Morkel said.
The former SA allrounder said with the exception of Quinton de Kock, who is likely to return, this team could challenge for World Cup glory.
“This team has momentum, and they will carry this form into the World Cup.
“JP Duminy is much better than an occasional spinner. In fact, if two left-hand batsmen are at the crease, he might even be given the opportunity to bowl before Imran Tahir.
“He could easily be given seven or eight overs as number-five bowler,” Morkel said.
The depletion of bowling resources through injury could leave the SA team exposed and vulnerable and that is his only concern about their World Cup aspirations, Morkel added.
“I have said before the start of the five ODIs against the West Indies that this team, as well as Australia, are the two favourites at the World Cup,” he said.
South Africa has never triumphed in seven visits to the global showpiece in the limited-overs format, but were beaten semifinalists in 1992, 1999 and 2007.
