Chris Morris Age, Biography, career, stats, networth, Ranking & News

Cricket/India tour of South Africa, 2021-22/News

‘Selection Isn’t Guaranteed Now’ – Harbhajan Singh Surprised By Virat Kohli’s Shocking Decision To Relinquish Test Captaincy

Published on January 23, 2022

Harbhajan Singh has subtly warned that Virat Kohli, after leaving or being removed from the captaincy in all three formats, will now feel a pressure he hasn’t felt in the past seven years. The former spinner remarked that with his selection no longer guaranteed, Virat Kohli will feel under the pump to perform now more than ever.

Off-spinner veteran Harbhajan Singh’s remarks came a day after Virat Kohli was out for a five-ball duck in the second ODI against South Africa in Paarl. India ended up losing the game by seven wickets.

Virat Kohli scored a half-century in the previous match but looked completely at sea in the second, chipping a full off-stump ball from spinner Keshav Maharaj to cover. Virat Kohli, playing his first game after relinquishing Test captaincy, scored 51 off 63 balls.

Speaking in a video on his YouTube channel, former spinner, veteran Harbhajan Singh said he too was surprised by Virat Kohli’s “hurried” decision to step down from the Test captaincy role, adding that new challenges now await him as a batter.

He remarked: “When a captain steps down after seven years, a lot of people feel surprised in and outside the team. I myself was very surprised that he perhaps made this decision in a hurry. But obviously, Virat knows what’s in his heart, what are his future plans and what he wants to do in the future. But when you are captain, things are different.

“As a batter, he’ll have a different pressure upon him. We all know he’s a big player but when you are captain you don’t have to worry about your selection. You are always selected.”

Harbhajan Singh hopes Virat Kohli will continue to be the match-winner he was as a captain.

He continued: “But no matter how big a player you are – whether you are Sachin Tendulkar, Kapil Dev, (Sunil) Gavaskar, or anyone – you feel the pressure when you don’t perform. He’ll feel a pressure that wasn’t there for the past 7 years.

“But I also want to say that in these seven years he’s performed the best in world cricket as a captain. I hope his performance as a batter continues to be equally good and he keeps winning Team India matches as he did as a captain.”

Following the defeat on Friday, India, led by interim captain KL Rahul in the absence of injured Rohit Sharma, conceded the three-match series, with the South Africans taking an unassailable 2-0 lead. It was the first series defeat for the Men in Blue after Virat Kohli’s stepping down and the 33-year-old remains the only captain to have won an ODI series against the Proteas in South Africa.

Harbhajan Singh Reckons India Lost Both Test And ODI Series To The Weakest South African Team

Harbhajan Singh also spoke about India’s 2-1 defeat in the Test rubber that preceded the ODI series. He remarked that despite taking an early lead, India lost against the “weakest” South African side because of batting failures.

The Proteas were without the likes of pacer Anrich Nortje for both Test and ODI series, while Quinton de Kock retired from Test after loss in the 1st Test. Besides, the likes of Faf du Plessis, Chris Morris, Imran Tahir, and AB de Villiers weren’t there. Kagiso Rabada too was withdrawn from the ODI series to manage his workload.

Harbhajan Singh said: “When India went to play the Test series, it felt like this was a quite capable and strong team which will easily defeat this South African team. But that didn’t happen.

“We did win the first Test, KL Rahul batted brilliantly, Mayank scored 60-odd and our bowlers did well throughout the Test series but just because we couldn’t score enough runs, we lost the Test series even after taking a lead. If you are 1-0 up in South Africa then you should win and against this team – I feel this was the weakest South African team that defeated India.”

Quinton de Kock Photographer: Isuru Sameera Peiris/Getty Images

India will play for pride in the final 3rd ODI which is a dead rubber. India opted to bowl after winning the toss. South Africa is 75/3 with Quinton de Kock unbeaten on 44. Deepak Chahar picked 2 wickets. India had made 4 changes as the likes of Jayant Yadav, Deepak Chahar, Suryaumar Yadav, and Prasidh Krishna got an opportunity.

At just 29 years of age and having played 54 Tests, Quinton de Kock announced his retirement from the traditional format at the end of the opening Test against India, which the Proteas lost by 113 runs at SuperSport Park, but he remains an integral part of Proteas limited-overs sides.

Cricket/News

Faf du Plessis Opens Up On 2021 T20I World Cup Snub: Cricket South Africa Wanted Cricketers To Be Always Available

Published on December 2, 2021

Despite brilliant form in the shortest format before the tournament, Faf du Plessis could not make it into South Africa’s squad. Faf du Plessis has opened up on his exclusion from South Africa’s T20 World Cup squad.

The 37-year-old, despite being in sensational form in the build-up to the tournament, which included his 633-run IPL 2021 with season champions Chennai Super Kings, found himself out of contention for the national team for the multi-team event in the United Arab Emirates.

Faf du Plessis: Cricket South Africa Wanted Cricketers To Be Always Available

Faf du Plessis, who is currently representing the Bangla Tigers at the Abu Dhabi T10 League, admitted that he desired to play for the Proteas at the short-format World Cup, which prompted him to announce his retirement from Test cricket. However, he reckoned that CSA had “unrealistic expectations” from the players.

“I am on a different journey now. Last year, when I played for South Africa against England in the series there, the plan was still very much to play in the World Cup. And the talks were that leading up to that. But at that time, it was just really difficult for Cricket South Africa and myself to find something that allows me to still play overseas,” du Plessis said.

Cricket South Africa Image Source: TWITTER/CSAOFFICIAL

“That was the reason why I retired from Test cricket. They tried to, but we couldn’t find a middle ground and I think they wanted people that are available all the time. That made it a challenge for the guys like myself and Imran Tahir because we were playing overseas [franchise leagues] as well. I think that’s the challenge now because we are playing overseas, if they don’t want us to play all the games, it’s probably an unrealistic expectation,” he added.

Faf Du Plessis accumulated 277 runs in the Caribbean, followed by smashing 633 for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in a title-winning campaign. However, it wasn’t good enough to get him a spot for the World T20. Faf Du Plessis retired from Test cricket in February this year; however, he intends to represent the Proteas in limited-overs cricket.

Although he is 37, the right-handed batsman could be key to their hopes in the 2022 T20 World Cup and the 50-over tournament in 2023. But he hasn’t played international cricket since February 2021.

Faf du Plessis Asserts That He Is Still In A Good Condition To Play And Mark Boucher Certainly Feels The Door Isn’t Closed For Anyone

Although the opener is as fit as ever, Faf du Plessis said that his age does not bother him, and he is still “very motivated” to play the game.

“I still feel physical like I’m in a really good condition to play for however long I want to play for, so I’m fortunate that physically I can do that,” he said. “For me, age doesn’t really matter, like it would for someone else maybe. It’s the mental freshness and the motivation that becomes the two challenges for me. And I’m still very motivated.”

Mark Boucher. Twitter/@SuperSportTV — Mark Boucher.— Twitter/@SuperSportTV

Meanwhile, with the next T20 World Cup coming in less than a year’s time, head coach Mark Boucher has stated that every player is very much in contention to find a spot in the team.

“I certainly don’t think the door is closed for anyone. The Faf conversation was had, and unfortunately, it just didn’t work out with the scheduling and all that stuff. It’s been tough during Covid times and bubble life, I understand from his perspective with family, has been very tough,” he was quoted.

Mark Boucher, the South Africa head coach, said missing out on the semi-finals of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 due to an inferior net run rate was a bitter pill to swallow.

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 Proteas bowed out of the 2021 T20I World Cup and ended the tournament having won 4 out of their 5 matches but failed to progress for inferior Net Run Rate.

Cricket/News

Mark Boucher Doesn’t Think The Door Is Closed For Any Cricketer Hinting At Faf du Plessis’ Axe In 2021 T20I World Cup

Published on November 10, 2021

Mark Boucher, South Africa head coach, has declared that no player is off the selection radar for any format in the near future. Mark Boucher spoke in the context of Faf Du Plessis, who didn’t earn selection in the 2021 T20 World Cup squad despite performing well before that. However, former Proteas white-ball captain Faf Du Plessis performed outstandingly in the CPL and IPL 2021.

Faf Du Plessis accumulated 277 runs in the Caribbean, followed by smashing 633 for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in a title-winning campaign. However, it wasn’t good enough to get him a spot for the World T20. Mark Boucher, the South Africa head coach, said missing out on the semi-finals of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 due to an inferior net run rate was a bitter pill to swallow.

Mark Boucher: Scheduling Plans Didn’t Work With Faf du Plessis

Mark Boucher revealed that scheduling plans didn’t work out well regarding Faf Du Plessis’ inclusion in the World T20 squad. However, the former keeper-batsman said he hasn’t played his last game for South Africa yet.

“I certainly don’t think the door is closed for anyone. The Faf conversation was had, and unfortunately, it just didn’t work out with the scheduling and all that stuff. It’s been tough during Covid times and bubble life, I understand from his perspective with family, has been very tough.

“Going forward, hopefully we can get out of bubble life as soon as possible and get back to some sort of normality with regards to touring,” the 44-year old said.

Faf Du Plessis retired from Test cricket in February this year; however, he intends to represent the Proteas in limited-overs cricket. Although he is 37, the right-handed batsman could be key to their hopes in the 2022 T20 World Cup and the 50-over tournament in 2023. But he hasn’t played international cricket since February 2021.

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. As a result, the Proteas bowed out of the T20 World Cup in style as they handed England their first defeat of the competition, thus ending the tournament having won 4 out of their 5 matches but failed to progress for inferior Net Run Rate.

Mark Boucher: Kolpak Guys Can Comeback In South Africa System But Have To Prove Themselves

Mark Boucher also revealed that players who opted for Kolpak deals earlier could return; however, they need to prove themselves to earn a recall.

Wayne Parnell of South Africa — Wayne Parnell of the Proteas. (Photo by Carl Fourie/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

“I haven’t sat down with the selectors and spoken about the future of Faf yet, but we will definitely have that conversation with regards to Faf and other players as well. With the Kolpak guys, we’ve always said that the guys need to come back into our system and do really well, and we’ll judge them on how we’re going to play in our franchise system.”

Rilee Rossouw, who signed a Kolpak deal in 2017, is currently playing for the Knights in South Africa and could be available for the national team soon. Earlier, seamer Duanne Olivier also hinted at returning to play for his home country. The door remains ‘open’ for veterans such as Rilee Rossouw and Wayne Parnell to force their way back into the Proteas team.

Wayne Parnell last played for South Africa in the 2017 Champions Trophy. All-rounder Wayne Parnell has earned a South Africa call-up after more than four years. Cricket South Africa (CSA) confirmed the same by naming him in the 16-man squad for the three-match ODI series against the Netherlands.

Keshav Maharaj will lead the 16-man team with many prominent players, including regular skipper Temba Bavuma resting for the series. Khaya Zondo, Zubayr Hamza, and Ryan Rickelton are the other notable inclusions in the national team.

South Africa’s squad for the home ODI series against the Netherlands: Keshav Maharaj (captain), Daryn Dupavillon, Zubayr Hamza, Reeza Hendricks, Sisanda Magala, Janneman Malan, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Dwaine Pretorius, Andile Phehlukwayo, Wayne Parnell, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Kyle Verreynne, Lizaad Williams, Khaya Zondo

Cricket/News

Chris Morris: One Has To Justify Selection And Not Paychecks In IPL

Published on October 29, 2021

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. On February 18th, 2021, when the Rajasthan Royals think tank at the IPL 2021 player auction soaked in the applause from the room after bagging the services of South African all-rounder Chris Morris for a whopping sum, the man in the spotlight barely found time to celebrate the milestone.

Chris Morris had only returned from a practice session with the Titans a little while before his name went under the hammer. After an intense bidding war that saw his name penned down in the record books, the all-rounder received numerous calls and congratulatory messages.

Chris Morris: Irrespective Of Hefty Money Tag, One Has To Justify Selection And Not Paychecks In IPL

The all-rounder endured a start-stop journey throughout the whole season though, particularly in the second half in the UAE, where he wasn’t as effective as the team – and in particular, Kumar Sangakkara – would have liked. 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 quite satisfactory from the most expensive IPL player. The dynamic all-rounder shed light on battling pressure, Sanju Samson’s maiden captaincy stint, and RR’s performance.

“Absolutely, I can’t hide the happiness. The second thing I did once I got off the flight and landed home was I got my second jab, but I spent some time away, played golf and switched off completely from the rest of the world. Recharged the batteries, but I am now back at the Titans, looking forward to some cricket,” Chris Morris said on happiness on returning home after IPL 2021 concluded.

“It doesn’t matter how much money you are being paid, I believe you have to justify selection but not justify paychecks. As a player, paychecks are out of your control, you’ve got no control over what happens in the auction. In terms of fear of the price tag, I didn’t demand it, it was out of my hands. I was very grateful to be wanted by teams.”

“I couldn’t really celebrate, I had just come back from practice for the Titans. Myself and Shimon Harmer sat in my room and watched it unfold. It was the first one I’ve watched properly, so it was quite a good experience,” Chris Morris said on hefty price tag and celebrations after being the most expensive player in IPL 2021 auctions.

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 Feels Luck Wasn’t In Rajasthan Royals Side In The UAE Leg Of IPL 2021

The consistent form of Rajasthan Royals’ skipper, Sanju Samson, was the biggest positive for the side. The 26-year-old amassed 484 runs at an incredible average of 40 runs per match in 14 encounters for his side. He was also the first player to score a hundred this season.

“We started to gain momentum in the first half, guys were taking wickets and scoring runs. Honestly, the COVID break made a big difference. I don’t think we performed to the ability we could, we showed glimpses of it and lady luck was not on our side. You don’t drop those many catches, balls landing in no man’s land, inside edges hitting the stumps. In cricket, you need that luck,” Chris Morris said on performing poorly in the UAE leg.

“In the end it was disappointing, we had a good squad, but we had some guys who were missing. We were off from where we wanted to be, but that said, we had some serious youngsters who in the future will play a lot of cricket for India. But all in all, disappointed, it hurts a little bit but the sun always comes up the next day and we get another opportunity next year ,” Chris Morris said on Rajasthan Royals performance.

“It doesn’t matter which team I play for, everyday I try and perform, and the pressure is exactly the same. In terms of responsibilities, I was the senior player with a bit of a leadership role behind the scenes, but on the field it’s always the same pressure to perform and it’s just one of the things. It was a disappointing second half, but these things happen in cricket.”

“The guy was on a 117 in a T20, he’s got every right to deny a single. He hit two balls before that for six, so 100 times out of a 100 I’m getting back, so no issues at all, ” on Sanju Samson denying a single.

“Dhoni is obviously one of the best at the game as captain, Virat is paving his own way as a great captain. Sanju is a young man, it was his first year as IPL captain and that’s not a very easy job, especially when you’ve got disruptions in the squad and the team,” Chris Morris said on IPL skipper’s comparison betwen Virat Kohli, Sanju Samson and MS Dhoni.

Rajasthan Royals batsmen Ben Stokes and Sanju Samson Photograph: BCCI/IPL

“How Sanju handled himself to be calm was incredible, especially considering the pressure we were facing. One thing about him is that he backs his players to the end, that’s one thing he’s got going. He’s got an unbelievable cricket brain, the way he thinks about the game, the way he talks about the game, he will only grow from strength to strength,” Chris Morris said on rating Sanju Samson as skippper.

“I’m pretty sure of my role on the team. I know my job is to hit sixes, but I haven’t hit nearly as many as I’ve wanted to because I’m often facing the world’s best. I know I need to finish off games, I didn’t do it enough in this tournament but in terms of facing a slightly newer ball and facing faster bowlers, I’m happy to leave it there, to be honest,” Chris Morris said on batting position and role.

Rajasthan Royals’ star players, like Jofra Archer, Jos Buttler, and Ben Stokes, were unavailable for the UAE leg of the competition. Considering their performances this season, Rajasthan Royals will look to revamp their entire squad for the cash-rich league in 2022.

Jofra Archer missed out from playing in IPL 2021 due to injury, while Jos Buttler, who was recently blessed with a child, opted out of IPL 2021 UAE leg, and Ben Stokes prioritized his mental wellbeing and decided to not play in India’s Test tour and UAE Leg of IPL 2021 besides T20I World Cup 2021. He was injured in the 1st game for Rajasthan Royals in India.

Cricket/News

My Playing Days For South Africa Are Done, Says Chris Morris

Published on October 27, 2021October 27, 2021

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.

Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, and Chris Morris-Image AP

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.”

South Africa bowler Chris Morris. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

“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.

Indian Premier League 2021 (IPL 2021)/Cricket/News

Virat Kohli Is Obviously A Genius: Chris Morris

Published on October 5, 2021October 5, 2021

Chris Morris, Rajasthan Royals (RR) all-rounder has named the batsmen he has found difficult bowling to over the course of his career. The right-arm pacer named a couple of his former national teammates namely AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla on his list as well as several prominent international cricketers.

Chris Morris shed praise for ace Indian batsman Virat Kohli and termed him a ‘genius’. Apart from Virat Kohli, the other Indian player that featured in his list was all-rounder Hardik Pandya. He named Australian opener David Warner and New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson on the list of tough batsmen to bowl to as well.

Chris Morris Finds Virat Kohli, David Warner, Kane Williamson, And Hardik Pandya Difficult To Bowl To

Chris Morris, the most expensive player in IPL’s history has so far scored 67 vital runs and taken 14 scalps averaging 16.75 and 24.85 respectively with the bat and ball in 10 games in IPL 2021. Chris Morris was sold to Rajasthan Royals for a whopping sum of INR 16.25 Cr and became the most expensive player bought in the IPL Auction history.

” Virat (Kohli) is obviously a genius, he’s an absolute jet. (David) Warner has been really tough to bowl to because he also just takes you apart. And the person that I probably hated bowling to the most just because he was so solid and he is the nicest guy on the planet is probably Kane Williamson.

“It’s so frustrating when I want to get angry with someone because he’s such a good guy. Those guys are probably the standouts for me. And I’ll add one more to that — Hardik Pandya. He’s so good, it is scary how well he hits the ball, ” said Chris Morris.

Chris Morris missed out on a chance to have a go at some of the toughest batsmen in the world after failing to find a spot in South Africa’s T20 World Cup squad.

Chris Morris Points Out He Never Dismissed AB de Villiers

The all-rounder also named former teammates AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla as very tough batsmen to bowl to. He expressed frustration over the fact that he has been unable to dismiss the former South African skipper even once in his career. He also revealed opener Hashim Amla’s surprising prowess in the shortest format of the game after having left him clueless in the match.

“I think AB (de Villiers) comes to mind straight away. He hits the ball so cleanly, he hits it everywhere. I’ve never gotten him out in my career which is very frustrating. I’m very happy to have played with him for many years as well but I’ve never gotten him out, ” said Chris Morris.

“Hashim Amla , whether it be any format. I remember running in a T20 game going I don’t know where to bowl because this guy is smoking me everywhere, walked across the stumps to hit me, back away and cut me, and I remember going I don’t know where to bowl, ” said Chris Morris.

Chris Morris is currently in the Rajasthan Royals set up in the UAE for the second leg of the 2021 IPL but is yet to find momentum across any department. Chris Morris has scored only 67 runs in 10 IPL games averaging a dismal 16.75 and taken 14 scalps averaging 24.85.

The Rajasthan Royals would be taking on defending champions Mumbai Indians on Tuesday which is an important game for both sides to stay in the hunt for a playoffs spot. Rajasthan Royals would hope Chris Morris (if he is picked) comes up with a good show after not having delivered at his best thus far.

Cricket/Indian Premier League 2021 (IPL 2021)/News

Kumar Sangakkara: Chris Morris Hasn’t Done Well For Rajasthan Royals In The UAE Leg Of IPL 2021

Published on September 30, 2021

Kumar Sangakkara, Rajasthan Royals’ Director of Cricket said that all-rounder Chris Morris knows that he has not done a good enough job for the side in the last few games after RR suffered a seven-wicket loss against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the UAE leg of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021

Chasing 150, Glenn Maxwell and Srikar Bharat scored 50 and 44 respectively as RCB defeated Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets with 17 balls to spare. With this win, RCB consolidated its position at the third spot with 14 points from 11 games.

File image of former Sri Lanka cricketer Kumar Sangakkara | Reuters / Dinuka Liyanawatte

Kumar Sangakkara: Chris Morris Hasn’t Done Well For RR In The UAE Leg

Chris Morris has not taken a wicket in the UAE leg of the IPL in three games for RR. The big-hitting all-rounder went for 50 runs off his four overs against RCB and also didn’t have any wickets.

It was a tale of two halves for Rajasthan Royals (RR) against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in match 43 of the IPL 2021. But the worst part was that the second half of RR batting innings enabled them to lose the game by seven wickets. It all started to go haywire for RR when they lost their opener, Evin Lewis, at 100 for two. From there, they completely lost the plot and squandered the opportunity by losing the next seven wickets for just 51 runs.

“Chris Morris did brilliantly for us in the first half and he has not done the job as we would have liked him too in the second half. He knows that and we know that. 50 runs from four overs, his last over were the last throw of the dice to try and get a wicket. We were well out of the game at that point. He has done well for us in certain parts and whoever we think of playing next will be the best person to come into the side to play against the opposition,” said Kumar Sangakkara during a virtual post-match press conference.

When asked about his conversations with skipper Sanju Samson, Kumar Sangakkara said: “We do have one on one chat about a lot of things. India’s aspirations come at a time when the IPL is over. Our chats are primarily IPL focused, not just his batting, it is about the captaincy, the team, and what we want to do. He is a very good player, he has done exceptionally well for us this season.”

“I am sure that Sanju’s aspirations for playing for India will come true and he will get a longer run in the future. He is good and ready anytime he is picked,” Kumar Sangakkara added.

Chris Morris, the most expensive player in IPL’s history has so far scored 67 vital runs and taken 14 scalps averaging 16.75 and 24.85 respectively with the bat and ball in 10 games which isn’t satisfactory from the most expensive IPL player. Chris Morris was sold to Rajasthan Royals for a whopping sum of INR 16.25 Cr and became the most expensive player bought in the IPL Auction history.

Kumar Sangakkara: RR Was Struggling In Powerplays In India But They Struggled To Score Runs In Their Middle Order In UAE

Earlier, Harshal Patel’s three-wicket haul helped RCB restrict Rajasthan Royals to 149/9 in the allotted twenty overs. For Sanju Samson’s side, Evin Lewis top-scored with a knock of 58 runs from 37 balls.

“Well, the pitches have been very good. Especially in the first half of the tournament in India, we were struggling in powerplays and our middle and late middle-order was getting us into games. In the second half, we have gone the other way. That has been the case for us. In the last two games, from a good position, we were unable to convert, unfortunately, we have not got to the mark where we take the opposition out of the game,” said Kumar Sangakkara.

Sanju Samson is the 2nd highest scorer so far in IPL 2021 after Shikhar Dhawan as he amassed 452 runs in 11 games averaging about 50. But his teammates failed to support him as is evident that RR’s second-highest run-scorer is Yashasvi Jaiswal who has scored 187 runs in 7 appearances and is placed 27th. The seventh-placed Rajasthan Royals will next lock horns against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Saturday in the ongoing IPL.

Cricket/Indian Premier League 2021 (IPL 2021)/News

Sanjay Manjrekar Is Not A Big Fan Of Ravichandran Ashwin In White-Ball Cricket

Published on September 25, 2021

Sanjay Manjrekar has opened up about not being a fan of Delhi Capitals spinner Ravichandran Ashwin when it comes to limited-overs cricket. This is because he wasn’t impressed by how the 35-year-old off-spinner in the previous match against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Ravichandran Ashwin was the least effective amongst the Delhi Capitals bowlers in a match where Sunrisers Hyderabad was restricted to 134/9 in their 20 overs. The off-spinner conceded 22 runs in 2.5 overs without adding anything to the wickets column.

Delhi Capitals player Ravichandran Ashwin. (Photo | IPL)

Sanjay Manjrekar Wished Amit Mishra Be Included Instead Of Ravichandran Ashwin Which Didn’t Happen

Delhi Capitals’ next match against Rajasthan Royals fielded Lalit Yadav instead of injuring Marcus Stoinis. Delhi Capitals are currently 114/4 in the 16th over, with Prithvi Shaw-10, Shikhar Dhawan-8, Shreyas Iyer-43, and Rishabh Pant-24 back in the Pavilion. However, Shimron Hetmyer is going all guns blazing, scoring an unbeaten 23 off 12 balls so far.

Reckoning that Delhi Capitals could give Amit Mishra the nod ahead of Ravichandran Ashwin, Sanjay Manjrekar said on Instagram: “I was a little surprised that they played Ashwin ahead of Amit Mishra. I don’t think Ashwin bowled too well. I am not a big fan of Ashwin in white-ball cricket. So if they can get Mishra in, he becomes that wrist spinner that is always a game-changer in T20 cricket.”

The former India batter felt the franchises were a bit unfair on low-profile players like Amit Mishra. He tends to get a raw deal despite performing well when he gets games, felt Sanjay Manjrekar.

“People like Amit Mishra, low profile players, tend to get a raw deal. Every time Mishra plays, he has got wickets for Delhi and the other franchises he has played before.”

Leg-spinner Amit Mishra remains a vital cog in the Delhi Capitals’ machinery. The wily leg-spinner, who has the most hat-tricks in the tournament, has 166 IPL wickets against his name. While the injury cut short his IPL 2020 journey, the veteran spinner picked six wickets in 4 games averaging 18.16 before contracting the virus.

Besides, as a result of which IPL 2021 was suspended indefinitely. He is the 2nd highest wicket-taker after Lasith Malinga (170 scalps).

Sanjay Manjrekar: Rajasthan Royals Needs To Field Tabraiz Shamsi In XI

Sanjay Manjrekar opined that Rajasthan Royals need a bit more depth in the spin department. Expressing his desire to see the team try and fit in left-arm wrist-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi in the side, Sanjay Manjrekar said he would add variety in the Royals’ spin department.

“The one thing that Rajasthan needs is some help with spin. Against Punjab, you could see that they were trying to get some spinners in, some variation. I really would like to see them fit in Tabraiz Shamsi, a typical T20 bowler, not quite orthodox. He might be able to give them a bit of variety. If the fast bowlers don’t get you wickets, maybe he could.”

The No. 1 ranked bowler in the T20I format is the latest addition to the Rajasthan Royals line-up for the second phase of IPL 2021.

Sanjay Manjrekar revealed that he favors Delhi Capitals to win the match against the Royals on Saturday, saying: “Despite Rajasthan’s win in the last match, Delhi start as favorites. Punjab was the better side for 38 overs in the match. Something bizarre happened in the last two overs for Rajasthan to win,” Sanjay Manjrekar signed off.

Rajasthan Royals have defended eight runs in their last two overs to win their previous match against the Punjab Kings. However, Evin Lewis and Chris Morris missed out on selection, and Tabraiz Shamsi and David Miller played against Delhi Capitals. Tabraiz Shamsi bowled his quota of 4 overs, conceded 34 runs only to return wicketless.

Cricket/News

South Africa T20I World Cup Squad 2021, Schedule, Date, Time, And Venue

Published on September 19, 2021September 27, 2021

South Africa, who hasn’t won a World Cup before and is labelled chokers for failure to perform in the knockout matches, is placed in Group 1 in the marquee event- 2021 T20I World Cup alongside heavyweights Australia, England, and West Indies. Notably, among the aforementioned four already qualified teams in the group, the Proteas team is the weakest. South Africa has witnessed a significant downfall in international cricket recently.

They are currently placed on the 5th spot in the latest ICC T20 Internationals rankings. Also, in the last 5 T20 international series, they have lost three series. Notably, they have several good promising players on the team who are match winners. However, they have been unable to fire together as a team.

South Africa Has Some Exceptional Talented Players In The Likes Of Quinton de Kock, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi

The South Africa management will hope things change before the forthcoming T20 World Cup 2021 despite star batsman AB de Villiers’ absence, who decided not to return from retirement.

They have some exceptionally talented players in the likes of Quinton de Kock, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassi Van Der Dussen, David Miller, and others on the team. If the players are in good form, they can surely give tough competition to other teams. Notably, South Africa recently faced Sri Lanka in the T20I series, and they earned an amazing series victory by 3-0.

So far, South Africa has yet to win a single T20 World Cup trophy and ODI World Cup. Also, they never made it to the finals of the T20 World Cup tournament. Meanwhile, this time under the leadership of Temba Bavuma, the Proteas team will be hoping for a better outcome in the T20 World Cup 2021.

South Africa’s Squad For The Upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2021: Notable Omissions And Inclusions

Temba Bavuma (c), Keshav Maharaj, Quinton de Kock (wk), Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Aiden Markram, David Miller, W Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen; Reserves: George Linde, Andile Phehlukwayo, Lizaad Williams

The complete schedule of South Africa for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2021:

Saturday, October 23, 2021: vs Australia, at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, in Abu Dhabi. (3:30 PM IST)

Tuesday, October 26, 2021: vs West Indies, at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, in Dubai. (3:30 PM IST)

Saturday, October 30, 2021: vs Qualifier (A1) Sharjah Cricket Stadium, in Sharjah. (3:30 PM IST)

Tuesday, November 2, 2021: vs Qualifier (B2), at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, in Abu Dhabi. (3:30 PM IST)

Saturday, November 6, 2021: vs England, at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, in Abu Dhabi. (7:30 PM IST)

Sourav Ganguly reveals T20 world Cup trophy | Image Credit: Twitter

Cricket/News

ICC T20I World Cup 2021: 4 Teams Which Won’t Be Able To Qualify For The Semi-Final

Published on September 17, 2021

ICC T20I World Cup 2021 is just a month away from taking place after a gap of five years and the excitement for the tournament in UAE is at its’ peak already. The previous edition took place in 2016 when West Indies emerged as the champions and this will be a 12 team affair this time around for the group stages.

The top eight teams from the T20 international rankings qualified automatically for the league stages of the T20 Worldcup while the remaining four teams will have to make it through the ICC T20I World Cup 2021 qualifiers. Surprisingly, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh haven’t been able to make it to the league stages and are placed in the qualifiers. Here are 4 teams that won’t be able to qualify for the semi-finals of ICC T20I World Cup 2021.

Representational image of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup trophy | AFP / Jewel Samad — Representational image of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup trophy | AFP / Jewel Samad

ICC T20I World Cup 2021: 4 Teams Which Probably Won’t Be Able To Qualify For The Semi-Final

Australia:

Australia is one of the powerhouses in world cricket at present for a long time now and they still continue to dominate best teams but haven’t been doing it on a consistent basis. But recent losses to West Indies and Bangladesh with a depleted squad saw their reputation diminish.

When it comes to T20 cricket, Australia hasn’t always been the team to watch out for as they do have a lot of stars in their lineup but despite that, they have lacked the T20 flavour. 2010 was the only year they reached the finals of the ICC T20I World Cup and they lost to England.

Australia’s recent form in T20I hasn’t been impressive either as they lost the T20I series in West Indies 4-1 and lost a bilateral series for the first time against Bangladesh which wasn’t the ideal preparation they needed. Australia has been placed in a strong group comprising of England, West Indies, and South Africa and their chances of making it to the semifinals look bleak at the moment.

Australia has lost the last 5 T20I series they have played against New Zealand, India, England, West Indies, and Bangladesh. With the return of big names like David Warner, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, and Pat Cummins the Aaron Finch-led side will be looking forward to gaining back the momentum.

South Africa:

South Africa has lacked the edge needed in the knockouts to progress to the finals of the tournament and it has been evident through their results so far in ICC events. They haven’t made it to a final in ICC T20 World Cup yet and have been succumbing down when it comes to pressure games for which they are labelled chokers.

The Proteas are a different looking side now without AB De Villiers and Faf du Plessis, and their new skipper Temba Bavuma will have a huge responsibility under his belt for the T20I World Cup. Their bowling attack does look good but they are expected to struggle with their inexperienced batting lineup and are unlikely to progress to the semi-finals after being placed in a tough group.

They are currently placed on the 5th spot in ICC T20 Internationals rankings. Also in the last 5 T20 international series, they have lost 3 series. They have some exceptionally talented players like Quinton de Kock, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassi Van Der Dussen, and David Miller on the team but have left out experienced Chris Morris, Faf du Plessis, and Imran Tahir.

Afghanistan :

Afghanistan has been one of the teams that have come from far behind in terms of development and the results are there to see as well. They have produced a lot of young match winners already and the best example is Rashid Khan who has been the best spinner in the world in the last two years globally.

Afghanistan has picked up a good squad for the ICC T20I World Cup 2021 but they have a lot of issues going on with the Taliban government and it will certainly take a toll on their performance. They have gone in for experience in the fast bowling department and Rashid Khan has stepped out as the captain of the side as well for the ICC T20I World Cup 2021. With India and New Zealand in the group, Afghanistan might not be able to progress to the semi-finals.

Currently, Afghanistan is placed on the 7th spot in the ICC T20 international rankings. Once the team enters the tournament all eyes will be on big names like Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Mohammad Nabi. ACB named Rashid Khan as their captain for the T20 world cup 2021. Rashid Khan soon came up with a tweet stating that he will be leaving the captaincy. Post that, ACB announced that Mohammad Nabi will be the captain of the team.

Pakistan:

Pakistan is looking like a better group in the last few international series and with the change in the coaching staff and the Director, a lot could change for the Pakistan side ahead of the ICC T20I World Cup 2021.

However, their recent performances haven’t been up to the mark especially in England and they still have holes to fill inside the group. Lead by captain Babar Azam, Pakistan will kickstart their ICC T20I World Cup 2021 campaign against arch-rivals India in Dubai on 24 October.

They will then face New Zealand in Sharjah on 26 October before returning to Dubai to take on Afghanistan. Their last two matches in the Super 12 stages will see them face runners-up of Group A and table-toppers of Group B from Round 1 in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah respectively.

Their middle order needed some solid experience and they have gone in for youngsters who had failed earlier. Their fast bowling and spin department don’t look bad either but they still do not like getting past New Zealand and India who have strong depth in their squads for the ICC T20I World Cup 2021.

Pakistan chose youth over experience for the backup wicketkeeper spot with the inclusion of Azam Khan over Sarfaraz Ahmed. Azam Khan has featured in only three T20Is in his career and has aggregated only six runs in two innings but his exploits in domestic T20 competitions has helped him seal a berth in the ICC T20I World Cup 2021 squad.

Asif Ali and Khushdil Shah were among the surprise inclusions in the squad for the ICC T20I World Cup 2021 World Cup, having last played a T20I for Pakistan earlier this year against Zimbabwe and South Africa respectively.

They did not find a place in the squad for the tours of England and the West Indies. The experienced campaigners Shoaib Malik, Wahab Riaz, and Sarfaraz Ahmed surprisingly didn’t find a place in ICC T20I World Cup 2021 squad.

Chris Morris

Harbhajan Singh Surprised By Virat Kohli Stepping Down As Captain As His Selection Isn’t Guaranteed Now

Harbhajan Singh Reckons India Lost Both Test And ODI Series To The Weakest South African Team

You might be interested in

Faf du Plessis: Cricket South Africa Wanted Cricketers To Be Always Available

Faf du Plessis Asserts That He Is Still In A Good Condition To Play And Mark Boucher Certainly Feels The Door Isn’t Closed For Anyone

You might be interested in

Mark Boucher: Scheduling Plans Didn’t Work With Faf du Plessis

Mark Boucher: Kolpak Guys Can Comeback In South Africa System But Have To Prove Themselves

You might be interested in

Chris Morris: Irrespective Of Hefty Money Tag, One Has To Justify Selection And Not Paychecks In IPL

Chris Morris Feels Luck Wasn’t In Rajasthan Royals Side In The UAE Leg Of IPL 2021

You might be interested in

Chris Morris Thinks His Playing Says For South Africa Are Done With

Chris Morris Content With Career As He Isn’t Keen To Make An Official Retirement

You might be interested in

Chris Morris Finds Virat Kohli, David Warner, Kane Williamson, And Hardik Pandya Difficult To Bowl To

Chris Morris Points Out He Never Dismissed AB de Villiers

You might be interested in

Kumar Sangakkara: Chris Morris Hasn’t Done Well For RR In The UAE Leg

Kumar Sangakkara: RR Was Struggling In Powerplays In India But They Struggled To Score Runs In Their Middle Order In UAE

You might be interested in

Sanjay Manjrekar Wished Amit Mishra Be Included Instead Of Ravichandran Ashwin Which Didn’t Happen

Sanjay Manjrekar: Rajasthan Royals Needs To Field Tabraiz Shamsi In XI

You might be interested in

South Africa Has Some Exceptional Talented Players In The Likes Of Quinton de Kock, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi

South Africa’s Squad For The Upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2021: Notable Omissions And Inclusions

The complete schedule of South Africa for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2021:

You might be interested in

ICC T20I World Cup 2021: 4 Teams Which Probably Won’t Be Able To Qualify For The Semi-Final

Australia:

South Africa:

Afghanistan :

Pakistan:

You might be interested in