South Africa

Albie Morkel

Born: June 10, 1981, Vereeniging, Transvaal

Albie Morkel bio

Johannes Albertus Morkel, commonly known as Albie Morkel, is a former South African cricket player who gained recognition for his medium-fast bowling skills and hard-hitting batting style. Although he was often compared to the legendary Lance Klusener, Morkel struggled to replicate his domestic success at the international level.

Born to Albert Morkel and brother to fellow cricketers Malan and Morne, Morkel was destined to follow in his family’s footsteps. Cricket was ingrained in his DNA, and he quickly rose to prominence while playing for Easterns against the touring West Indians in 2003-2004. Despite battling food poisoning, Morkel showcased his talent by scoring a century and taking five wickets during the match held at Benoni.

Following this impressive performance, Morkel was selected to tour New Zealand later that season. However, his initial offerings in One Day Internationals (ODIs) were underwhelming. Nevertheless, he experienced a more sustained period of success during the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 seasons, which included his only Test appearance. In March 2009, Morkel filled in for his injured brother Morne in a match against Australia.

Morkel’s talent in limited-overs cricket distinguished him, and he became one of the most sought-after players during the inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) auction. The Chennai Super Kings secured Morkel’s services with a staggering bid of US$675,000, solidifying his reputation as a reliable lower-order allrounder. He remained part of the franchise for several seasons.

By 2010, Morkel’s ODI appearances for the South African national team became sporadic. However, his career received a lifeline through the shortest format of the game. Morkel played a crucial role in South Africa’s campaigns in the 2010, 2012, and 2014 World T20 tournaments. Unfortunately, it appeared that the latter tournament signaled the end of his international career.

Despite this setback, Morkel continued to dedicate himself to franchise cricket. In the 2015-2016 season, he was named captain of the Titans franchise in limited-overs formats. During that summer, his international career experienced a brief resurrection as he was selected to travel with the South African T20 squad to India. On his comeback, Morkel displayed his prowess by recording a career-best 3 for 12. While he seemed destined to participate in the 2016 World T20, he was ultimately left out of the squad.

Morkel’s passion for T20 cricket remained undiminished, and he continued to participate in both the IPL and the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). Throughout his career, Morkel consistently showcased his ability to contribute as a valuable allrounder, excelling with both bat and ball.

Although he faced challenges in translating his successes at the domestic level to international cricket, Morkel’s impact on South African cricket cannot be understated. His fearless batting and potent bowling made him a force to be reckoned with on the cricket field, leaving a lasting impression on fans and opponents alike.

Today, Albie Morkel’s legacy as a cricket player endures, serving as a testament to his dedication, talent, and the indomitable spirit of South African cricket.

Albie Morkel career stats

Batting stats

Batting Matches Innings Nos Runs High score Ave BF SR 100s 50s 4s 6s Ct St
Tests 1 1 0 58 58 58 71 81.69 0 1 10 1 0 0
T20Is 50 38 11 572 43 21.18 402 142.28 0 0 29 39 17 0
ODIs 58 43 10 782 97 23.69 780 100.25 0 2 71 25 15 0
FC 77 114 21 4117 204* 44.26 - - 8 23 - - 34 0
List A 222 177 45 3994 134* 30.25 - - 2 19 - - 63 0
T20s 319 254 93 4248 73* 26.38 3065 138.59 0 12 268 248 71 0

Bowling stats

Bowling Matches Innings Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ SR 4w 5w 10w
Tests 1 2 192 132 1 1/44 1/132 132 4.12 192 0 0 0
T20Is 50 46 647 864 26 3/12 3/12 33.23 8.01 24.8 0 0 0
ODIs 58 52 2073 1899 50 4/29 4/29 37.98 5.49 41.4 2 0 0
FC 77 - 11807 6148 203 6/36 - 30.28 3.12 58.1 - 5 0
List A 222 - 8103 6745 215 4/23 4/23 31.37 4.99 37.6 5 0 0
T20s 319 288 4990 6307 248 4/25 4/25 25.43 7.58 20.1 3 0 0

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