Morkel signing to raise Surrey hopes of ending title wait
Morne Morkel, the South Africa Test bowler, is poised to join Surrey on a Kolpak contract this summer.
Morkel, who recently took his 300th Test wicket, will be a significant boost to Surrey’s hopes of winning their first County Championship title since 2002.
He is ranked the world’s sixthbest Test bowler and recorded match figures of nine for 110 in South Africa’s victory over Australia in the third Test, which ended last week. He is playing in the final Test of the series, which he has said will be his last. A formal announcement of his Surrey move is expected soon after the Test.
Morkel, 33, has suffered injury concerns, but his form remains outstanding. Since the start of 2017, he has taken 65 Test wickets at 21.90 apiece, a haul that included 19 wickets in England last summer.
He will balance his county career with Surrey alongside playing in T20 leagues around the world.
Morkel is the latest South African international to join a county. A combination of the weak rand, transformation targets and fears that Brexit will prevent players from joining under the Kolpak ruling in the future have contributed to the exodus, which has prompted much anger in South Africa.
The circumstances of Morkel’s departure are different. He has cited family reasons as being behind his retirement, and he has enjoyed a fine 11-year international career. He has also been open about his plans, in contrast to the clandestine departures of others.
Yet Morkel will still be a significant loss. He performed well in the Champions Trophy last year, and figured in South Africa plans for next year’s World Cup in England. The player once considered his long-term international replacement, Kyle Abbott, joined Hampshire on a Kolpak contract last year.
Morkel’s pace and bounce strengthens Surrey’s squad hugely and will help deal with the likelihood of the Curran brothers, Tom and Sam, being less available.
It is understood that Kolkata Knight Riders are in advanced discussions with Tom about this season’s Indian Premier League as a replacement for the injured Mitchell Starc. If he goes to the IPL, he would miss Surrey’s first four championship games and the start of their Royal London Cup campaign. He has been identified by Kolkata for his prowess bowling at the end of the innings in T20.
Morkel is poised to end his international career with the satisfaction of helping South Africa to their first Test series victory at home to Australia since 1970.
After the suspensions of three players for ball-tampering, an under-strength Australia side have struggled in Johannesburg. After the end of day three, South Africa lead by 401 runs with seven second-innings wickets in hand, and are on course to win the fourmatch series 3-1.
Tim Paine, Australia’s acting Test captain – who is expected to get the job permanently – scored 62 in his first innings in the role, batting with a fractured thumb. Despite Paine’s resistance, Australia still conceded a first-innings lead of 267.
South Africa may yet have to complete the job without Morkel, who suffered a side strain and had to stop bowling midway through his 13th over. It is unclear whether he will be able to bowl in the remainder of the game, which may prove to be a concern for Surrey.