Morris’ titanic effort
All-rounder believes team effort has brought out the best in him
ALTHOUGH his 18 wickets may be the most claimed by any bowler in this season’s RamSlam T20 Challenge, Chris Morris,
says it’s been a collective effort on the part of the Unlimited Titans that has helped bring him the individual success.
The Titans head into Saturday evening’s final in Centurion on the back of a magnificent league campaign – they won eight out of their 10 matches to dominate the competition.
Morris’ 18 wickets have come at an average of 14.16 with an economy rate of 7.08 and while those statistics make for excellent reading, he prefers to heap praise on his teammates.
“My success has been related a lot to the bowling unit, it’s outstanding to know that there is so much back-up. We’ve got so many different options – we’ve used eight bowlers in one game – so it could really have been any one of us that’s the highest wicket taker, I’ve just been lucky,” he said yesterday.
“I’ve never been in a team that literally has every base covered. We’ve got guys that can bowl anything, on any pitch, in any given situation and we’re lucky and blessed to have that. I might also be hitting my straps better because this is a new franchise and you always want to impress at a new team. I’m loving the environment, the people around me and what’s growing around here with the team.”
Morris made the decision to switch allegiance to north of the Juksei in search of a new and different challenge after a successful six-year stint with the Lions. Besides his stress levels lessening on account of no longer having to battle traffic on the M1, the move has helped revitalise his game and he is keen on getting back into the national side as an all-rounder. Already, he’s had a small taste of the Protea environment as part of the T20 and ODI squads that toured in India, which he says helped his progress in the RamSlam.
“Before I went to India I’d only played three T20 games, the more I bowl, the better (the ball) comes out and the more comfortable I feel.”
An important part of the build-up for the Titans this week is to maintain their composure ahead of a clash that will, hopefully, be played in front of a capacity crowd at the fanfriendly SuperSport Park.
“It’s very exciting man … it’s finals week … it’s not often you get to play in a final at home.”
“It’s natural the younger guys might look towards me, and I still look at how Albie (Morkel) and Fudgie (Farhaan Behardien) handle themselves around the change-room in the build up.”
The Titans are chasing their ninth trophy since the franchise system was launched in 2003/04. Their eight titles to date make them the most successful side in the country ahead of the Cape Cobras, who’ve won six titles.
The Titans will also be looking for their fourth T20 championship, which would put them one ahead of the Cape side. Saturday’s will be their fifth final in the competition – they’ve been runners-up once.
TIME TO MOVE ON: New Zealand skipper Brendon McCallum leads his team against Sri Lanka.