Faf Du Plessis, the South African skipper has confirmed the comeback of Morne Morkel in the playing XI for the first Test against New Zealand. Morkel making a comeback to the squad means Duane Oliver will warm the bench for the first Test.
Morkel will be teaming up with Kagiso Rabada and Vernon Philander for the fast bowling duties.
“He looks good. If he’s not going to be able to play now, we will never know if we don’t take that chance. All the reports say he’s 100 per cent fine… he’s bowled a lot of overs and he seems pretty confident so we just have to step out and see what he’s got for us,” Du Plessis said a day ahead of the first Test while confirming playing XI for the game.
Morkel is returning to the national squad after a long period. Though he was part of the Test squad for the series against Australia but could not make it to the final XI as he was not fully fit to participate in the game. He then went back to domestic cricket along with AB De Villiers in order to prove his fitness.
“I’m really excited to see what he’s got. We’ve missed him. He’s fresh, it’s a long time away from the game and it makes him really hungry to perform. He’s terrible to face in the nets as a right-hander because you always feel like you are going to get hit in the ribs. But obviously (it’s) the opposite to lefties, it goes away.”
“I don’t know these conditions, so I have to see what the guys think is the best way to shine the ball is, but I think saliva is the process that I am following for the next while at least.”