Ranking Morne Morkel’s 3 best Test spells

Morne Morkel is regarded as one of the best South African pacer of all-time. The pacer will turn 39 soon and is currently working as a bowling coach for the Pakistan Cricket Team. With the World Cup has already begun and with his experience in the Indian conditions and the pitch it is a huge boost for the Pakistan pace bowling department. The pacer made his test debut in the year 2006 against India. Since then he had been one of Proteas best bowlers alongside Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander. In 2016 he was ranked as the No.9 ODI bowler and was ranked 13th in the Test rankings. 

In the first edition of the 2007 T20 World Cup that was held in South Africa, he was picked up in the squad and performed brilliantly, in the mega event. As the soon 38th year old pacer picked up 9 wickets at an average of 13.33 and an economy rate of 6. He has been in the champion side of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) from 2014 to 2016. In 2018, he retired from international cricket and in his last series against Australia he became the fifth bowler to pick 300 Test wickets. With him turning 39 on October 6, let us take a look at his best test spells of all time. 

Here are the top 3 Test spells by Morne Morkel:  

3. 5/21 vs Zimbabwe in Gqebera in 2017 

In the one-off test against Zimbabwe the Proteas won the toss and elected to bat first. Batting first the South Africans with the help of Aiden Markram 125 runs off 204 balls they scored 309 runs. In reply the Chevrons could only score 68 runs as they could not handle Morne Morkel as the pacer picked one of his career best with 5 for 21 runs with an economy of 1.90. 

 He even picked 5 for 21 against Australia which was the only win for the visitors on the whole tour. But for being less economical against Zimbabwe it is his third best bowling spell of all time. 

2. 5/20 vs India in Centurion in 2010  

In this match Sachin Tendulkar was the only batter to survive against a fierce bowling attack of South Africa. This was South Africa’s first innings win against India at home and fourth overall against them. It was their only second time that South Africa have won the first Test of a home series against a major Test side. 

The India batters looked helpless against Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn in the first inning. With Morkel picking up five wickets for 20 runs. It is the second best spell of his career. This was also their fifth occasion that South Africa won by an innings after losing less than five wickets in the entire match. 

1. 6/23 vs New Zealand in Wellington in 2012 

Morkel bagged astonishing figures of 6/23 in the 3rd Test of the tour of New Zealand which ended in a draw. He was the stand out for the Proteas in the match. New Zealand was chasing a target of 389 and it was Morkel who ripped through the top order. Kane Williamson was the only batter to score runs as he scored 102 runs in the second inning and no other batter gave support to him. 

In the first inning with the courtesy of Alviro Pietersen and JP Duminy century South Africa scored 474 runs. The former scored 156 runs and the latter scored 103 runs. Mark Gillespie picked up six wickets in the first innings. In reply, the Kiwis were bowled out for just 275 runs. In the second 189/3 and declared the innings.