Morkel's Presence Creates Catch 22 Situation for Domingo

Morkel's Presence Creates Catch 22 Situation for Domingo

Morne Morkel was selected in the South African squad for the Champions Trophy in late April despite not having played an international game since January 2016. South Africa went into the three-match ODI series against England with the view of giving adequate chances to all the players. However, the veteran pacer bowled only four overs in three matches.

Going into the mega-tournament, coach Russell Domingo suggessted that even as he is pleased with the presence of Morkel in the squad, it will be tough for him to make it to the playing XI. The make-up of the squad is such that they have several pace bowling allrounders - Wayne Parnell, Chris Morris, Andile Phehlukwayo and Dwaine Pretorius - which allows the team to bat deep and have five or more frontline bowlers at their disposal, with Kagiso Rabada to lead the attack.

"It's a catch-22 situation because having Morne there might strengthen our bowling, it gives us more of a tail not having the three allrounders," Domingo said. "It's his first one-day international for a while and it's good to have him back. He's had a long-term injury layoff, and the bowlers that have played in his place have done really well."

Morkel featured in the Lord's ODI, the only match of the series South Africa won. That too, however, was courtesy the first five-over spell by Kagiso Rabada and Wayne Parnell which dismantled England's top order and left them reeling at 20 for 6. Even as South Africa conceded more than 300 runs in the first two ODIs, it wasn't because of poor bowling, even as they might like to introspect their bowling in the death overs. The high-scoring games had more to do with the changed playing conditions in England where 300-plus totals have become a norm in the 50-over format in the last couple of years, apart from England improving their limited-overs game vastly.

"That's the way England bat at times - if there is something in the wicket, and you land the ball in the right areas and they nick the ball, you've got a chance against them because they play that expansive brand of cricket. On flatter wickets, they're going to be hell of a dangerous," he said. "But the bowlers will always have a chance against them when there's something in the wicket because of the way they're going about their batting at the moment."

South Africa are set to face India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in their group at the Champions Trophy. While Pakistan have relied on their bowlers for long, India too have a potent and complete bowling attack. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, remain the weaker side. In conditions where bowlers can be sent for a leather hunt, South Africa would prefer to cushion their side with a deep line-up, in case of an early collapse.

Even as South Africa lost two close games in the recently-concluded series, Domingo believes there are a lot of positives to take from the series. "There were a lot of benefits and positives that we can take forward into the Champions Trophy so we're pretty happy with the way things have panned out for us," Domingo concluded.