Morne Morkel’s 5 best spells vs India

Former South African pacer Morne Morkel has been appointed as the new bowling coach for Team India. He is set to take charge on September 1, ahead of the home season for the Men in Blue.

The speedster will join the coaching staff consisting of head coach Gautam Gambhir, assistant coaches Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate, and fielding coach T Dilip.

Morne Morkel worked with Gautam Gambhir in the IPL for the Lucknow Super Giants. He was also associated with the Namibian and Pakistan cricket teams in the past.

The former South African pacer represented his nation in 86 Tests, taking 309 wickets with eight fifers to his name. He also played in 117 ODIs and 44 T20Is. As Morne Morkel is now set to take charge of Indian bowling, we look at his five best spells against the Men in Blue.

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Morne Morkel’s top 5 spells vs India

#5 34/3 at Johannesburg in 2013

India won the toss and batted first in the first game of the two-match Test series at Johannesburg in 2013. Courtesy of a brilliant 119-run innings from Virat Kohli, India scored 280 runs in the first innings. For South Africa, Vernon Philander took four wickets. Morne Morkel also bowled a brilliant spell, taking three wickets while only conceding 34 runs.

Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma bagged four wickets each as South Africa got bowled out for 244 in their first innings. Cheteshwar Pujara scored 153 runs in the second innings as India put up 421 runs on the board.

Chasing a target of 458 runs, Faf du Plessis (134) and Ab de Villiers (103) scored brilliant centuries but the match ended in a draw as South Africa finished 450/7 at the end of play on Day 5.

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#4 60/4 at Centurion in 2018

After winning the first game of the series, South Africa continued their good form as they scored 335 runs in the first innings of the second Test at Centurion in 2018.

In response, Virat Kohli led the way for India, scoring 153 runs as the visitors put 307 runs on the board in their first innings. Morne Morkel was brilliant for the hosts, picking up four wickets for 60.

The Proteas scored 258 runs in their second innings, setting a target of 287 for India. However, Virat Kohli’s side was poor in the second innings as they were bowled out on 151, losing the match by 135 runs. The hosts won the three-match series 2-1.

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#3 52/4 at Centurion in 2011

The Men in Blue won the toss and chose to bowl first in the series decider of the five-game ODI series in 2011. The match was reduced to 46 overs due to the rain. Opener Hashim Amla was brilliant for the hosts, scoring 116 off 132 balls as South Africa finished at 250/9.

In response, the visitors were struggling, having lost eight wickets for 119 while chasing a target of 268 as per the DLS method.

Yusuf Pathan then went berserk as the Indian middle-order batter smashed 105 off 70 balls but it wasn’t meant to be as South Africa won by 33 runs. Morne Morkel took four wickets in his eight overs as South Africa won the series 3-2.

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#2 39/4 at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in 2015

In the third game of the five-match ODI series held in India in 2015, South Africa won the toss and chose to bat first. Quinton de Kock scored 103 off 118 balls for the hosts as they finished 270/7 in their allotted 50 overs.

In response, Rohit Sharma (65) and Virat Kohli (77) scored half-centuries but it was South Africa that came on top. Morne Morkel was brilliant for the visitors, taking four wickets while conceding 39 runs in his spell of 10 overs as South Africa won the match by 18 runs.

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#1 20/5 at Centurion in 2010

Morne Morkel was on fire for South Africa in the first game of a three-match Test series in 2010. Batting first, the Indian team was bowled out for 136. Morkel took five wickets in 12.4 overs while conceding just 20 runs.

In response, South Africa declared their first innings at 620/4. Jacques Kallis remained unbeaten on 201 off 270 balls. The Indian batters fought hard in the second innings, scoring 459 runs, courtesy of a century by Sachin Tendulkar. But it wasn’t enough as the Proteas won the game by an innings and 25 runs.