Morkel: we need to get reverse swing to pick up

THE Proteas will have to conjure up new tricks to find a way of bursting through what looks like a rock-solid Indian top order today if they want to have a say in the outcome of the second and final Test at Kingsmead.

That was the view of the lanky quick bowler Morne Morkel, who almost did not play in the encounter. But when he heard Jacques Kallis was to retire after this Test he made a miraculous recovery from the ankle injury he sustained at the Wanderers last week.

“We have to find a way to bring reverse swing into the game,” he said. “It’s the sort of wicket that is going to be tough to strike on but it’s important for us to restrict them and take wickets. That’s the mindset that we have to have today.”

“It’s a very dry (wicket). It’s a touch on the slow side but what I was personally surprised by was the fact that after 13 overs the ball looked 60 overs old.”

The Indians made the most of what look like a perfect batting pitch and the South African bowlers were made to toil for virtually the entire day. Even Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander battled on a Kingsmead track which has not been kind to them for the past four Tests here.

“We as bowlers were a little bit surprised by the pace of the wicket,” Morkel said after the shortened day’s play – 29 overs were lost due to bad light.

“We thought it was a touch on the slow side. As a bowling unit it was important for us to move away from that. After the first five to 10-over spells we came together as a unit and decided that we would have to deal with the conditions.”

When asked what he had done to make such a remarkable recovery from his injury, Morkel said Brendan Jackson should be credited for getting him back on his feet.

However, he added that he would never have given up the opportunity of playing in a last Test match with the star South African all-rounder Kallis, who has decided to quit the Test arena this weekend.

He said: “I did a lot of rehab and work with Jacko (Jackson), ‘the magic man’ behind the scenes, I need to give him all the credit.

“Our main concern was to get the swelling down. As soon as the swelling went down we were able to work on it, which made it easier.

“I’m happy to be playing this Test, especially because of Jacques and it being his last Test match.”

AUCKLAND: The West Indies tasted success for the first time on their New Zealand tour yesterday when they scraped