Morne Morkel quashes latest Kolpak links

Morne Morkel is in the form of his life. He is a very important member of the Proteas team in all the formats of the game. The lanky pacer, of-late is picking wickets in heaps for the national team. Making adjustments to the lengths that he bowls at has helped him get better as a bowler. Earlier, he used to bang the ball, in short, giving the batsman a little extra time to play the shot. This helped them get comfortable on the front foot or rest on the back foot.

However, in the recent times, he is bowling a touch fuller, in the corridor of uncertainty and he is now able to swing the ball. Making a good use of his height, Morkel is extracting some awkward bounce and is proving difficult for the batsmen to handle. He is also consistent with his pace and regularly hits the 140-mark.

Fresh reports doing rounds suggested a possible Kolpak deal. Also, a report on Monday that surfaced in an Indian publication, the Mumbai Mirror, suggested that a move abroad was very much on the cards. The article quoted Morkel’s father, Albert Morkel, as saying that a move to England was likely if Morne ever felt that his place in the Proteas set-up was threatened.

When Ottis Gibson was named coach of the national side towards the end of last year, the 33-year-old was open about the possibility of leaving South Africa if he wasn’t in Gibson’s plans for the 2019 World Cup.

What is a Kolpak deal?

In simple terms, a player is eligible for a Kolpak when he gives up the right to play for the national team, meaning he is not classed as an overseas-player signing in English county cricket. Also, the Kolpak rule enables players from any nation with a trading relationship with the EU to freely play as a professional.

Morkel declines

The 33-year-old has quashed all reports of him signing a Kolpak deal. There were constant conversations between Gibson and him all this while. He knows his importance and his stance in the team. He addressed this matter in a post-match press conference on Monday. “There are still a lot of goals I want to achieve with the Proteas,” Morkel said.