“WE ARE NOT CHOKERS”

THE South African cricket team will not take any disappointment from their Champions Trophy experience to their ODI series in Sri Lanka, fast bowler Chris Morris said on Monday.

“We were absolutely gutted to lose in the semi-finals of another big tournament and the chokers tag came out straight away.

“But I don't believe that. It's only a choke if you were in a position to win the game and we never were. We were behind the eight-ball already 20 overs in. Everyone forgets how important the toss was, but Sri Lanka were also in trouble batting first the next day on a dodgy pitch.

“So there's no scarring going with us to Sri Lanka and the mood is good.” Morris made his ODI debut for South Africa in the Champions Trophy in England last month. The Proteas had another early exit from an ICC tournament when they were hammered by the host country in the semi-finals.

The South Africans will play five ODIs and three T20 internationals on the tour of the island nation. The only South African win in the 11 ODIs hosted by Sri Lanka was the 124-run triumph in a day/night match at the Khettarama Stadium in Colombo back in September 1993, when the hosts were bundled out for 98.

The conditions in Sri Lanka will be like those in India and Morris, who played for the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, said the heat would be a major obstacle.

Sapa