Press Trust of India
Cuttack, Oct 6: He had literally given up hopes of making a national comeback before David Wiese’s injury provided Albie Morkel with a second chance as he grabbed it with both hands with a man of the match performance against India at the Barabati Stadium here, Monday. He termed the performance as one he would ‘remember forever’.
“I am just happy for the opportunity. In cricket, it’s tough sometimes. Today (Monday) was my night, the next night will be someone else’s. I am fortunate that I got a man of the match award on my comeback game and it is something I will remember forever,” Morkel told reporters after the game.
Morkel was not chosen for the first T20I in Dharamsala but Faf du Plessis picked the speedster in place of Marchant de Lange in what proved to be a masterstroke on the Barabati pitch that suited pace and bounce.
“It was awesome. Even two weeks ago, I didn’t know what was happening on this tour. A freak accident to David (Wiese) gave me this opportunity. The boys welcomed me into the side very quickly. I arrived here only last Friday,” said the Chennai Super Kings player.
“It’s very satisfying. I have put in a lot of effort in the last season with Titans, my state side, without any visions of playing for South Africa. I certainly should not be saying that I should be in the team. My job is to perform and let the selectors decide,” the tall speedster added.
“The pitch suited us perfectly and we hit the ball in the right areas. That helped us dismiss the Indians cheaply,” Albie Morkel
