Chris Morris, the South African all-rounder, has all but shut out any possible doors for his re-entry into the national side, mentioning that he might never again don the national jersey of South Africa. While he spoke on the lines of recent unrest and friction between the South African players and the Cricket South Africa (CSA) board, Chris Morris, who Global Cricket Management manages, said it had been more than a year since the last conversations around his spot on the national side came up for discussion.
South Africa went into the 2021 T20I World Cup without experienced T20I specialists batsman Faf du Plessis and all-rounder Chris Morris besides spinner Imran Tahir.
The 34-year-old Chris Morris last donned the national jersey in the year 2019. The most expensive player in IPL’s history had scored 67 runs and taken 15 scalps averaging 13.4 and 25.06, respectively, with the bat and ball in 11 games which isn’t satisfactory from the most expensive IPL player.
Chris Morris Thinks His Playing Says For South Africa Are Done With
Chris Morris was sold to Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2021 for a whopping sum of INR 16.25 Cr and became the most expensive player bought in the IPL Auction history.
“I had my discussions with whoever I needed to quite a while ago, I haven’t spoken to CSA since then. At the end of the day, how they treated Faf (du Plessis), Immi (Imran Tahir) or me is something they’ve to deal with, there is no way I can comment. I wasn’t a part of the negotiations, I haven’t been spoken to for a year, maybe longer than a year. So can’t really comment on what’s happening, a few stories are coming out, I know which one I can believe. It’s a touchy subject, there are so many different angles to it.”
As for his playing career, Chris Morris further added that he wishes to focus on domestic cricket, and a return to the South African national setup is nowhere on the horizon.
“My playing days for South Africa are done. I am not one for announcing things and officially retiring and all of that. They know where I stand, I know where I stand, but my days are done for CSA, I think they know that.”
The South African all-rounder was with the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL 2020, and despite missing the initial part of the season, he made his presence felt with the ball, scalping 11 wickets from 9 games averaging 19.09 in IPL 2020. He picked 15 scalps from 11 games averaging 25.06 for Rajasthan Royals in 2021, besides scoring 67 runs.
Chris Morris Content With Career As He Isn’t Keen To Make An Official Retirement
Chris Morris explained that he’s content with his achievements, and there’s no scope for change in his plans – at least in terms of a potential national team return when he was quizzed further about announcing his retirement from international cricket,
“There hasn’t been an official retirement because that’s not how I am, but like I said, my international cricket days are done. I am focussing on domestic cricket and giving back to the team as much as I can. I was fortunate to represent South Africa in all 3 formats, I had an opportunity to represent my country.”
“If you had asked me the same question a few months ago, I would have given you a longer answer but right now I am content with my life and my career.”
Since making his T20I debut in 2012, followed by an ODI debut less than six months later, and finally his Test bow in 2016, Chris Morris has played 4 Tests, 42 ODIs, and 23 T20Is for South Africa. He picked 94 international scalps in all formats combined.
With the merry-go-round system cascading into frequent changes in captaincy and personnel swaps in the squad, South Africa might certainly rue the absence of the stability Chris Morris offers. Chris Morris played his last Test in 2017, and his last limited-overs appearance came in 2019. After that, his career was plagued by injuries.