Big fan of Shami as he is the best ever Indian pacer: Morne Morkel

Morne Morkel

Former South African pace bowler Morne Morkel is one of the few greats from the men’s sport who are now part of the women's game in a coaching capacity. Just one short of 500 international wickets in his career, Morkel was at the pinnacle of his career among the world’s top 10 bowlers in all formats as ranked by the International Cricket Council, and was No. 1 in one-day internationals as well in 2011.

The 38-year-old spoke to Monetcontrol.com on women’s cricket and also took some questions on Indian pace bowlers. Edited excerpts:

Would you say it is an interesting experience now that you are with the women’s team?

I won’t say interesting, but yeah, I have enjoyed my stint with the White Ferns team here in South Africa. As a young coach I am also learning a lot.

Is there a huge difference in standards between the men’s and women’s game? Especially in T20s (the Twenty20 format)?

I have been looking at women’s cricket for the last three to four years and it’s definitely on the rise. And players are getting better each year. It’s a fast-growing sport and it’s great to see. From an ex-player’s point of view, I want to make some difference to the team. It’s going from strength to strength and it’s amazing to be part of this journey.

Do you think that WPL, the newly announced Women’s Premier League, is going to change the women’s sport completely?

In order to get better, they need to play good and competitive cricket. The more they play, the better they will be at it. Women’s IPL (WPL) is coming up now, there is already The Hundred (a 100-ball cricket tournament in England and Wales with eight men’s and women’s teams) and WBBL (Women’s Big Bash League, the Australian women’s domestic T20 competition) as well. There are so many platforms which will give girls the opportunity to learn and grow. I am a big supporter of that.

How do you rate India women’s chances in the World Cup?

They know how to play big moments. The conditions in South Africa for this tournament is going to suit them with some slower surfaces here which can play to their strength. Once you reach that semi-final and final spot, then anything is possible.

When you see someone like Mohammad Siraj’s progress in international cricket, what are your thoughts? How easy or difficult is it to carry the red ball form into the white ball game?

Look, I don’t think that is a big challenge. All those guys are very skilful. I think for me it’s just a matter of trying and doing the basics right in white ball cricket. You need to think on your feet. I think Siraj has been fantastic and it’s great to see him taking his white ball cricket to another level. He has developed his death bowling skills of late and is doing very well. And don’t forget that IPL (Indian Premier League) is a big platform to learn cricket. There is a fantastic standard and you play against good quality opposition on better playing surfaces. And so as a bowler, when you learn your skills there, you do upgrade yourself.

You have been a top-class bowler yourself but, in your career, you too suffered from fitness issues. And then juggling across the formats has never been easy for any bowler. Do you think that Jasprit Bumrah is going through the same phase of late?

Any fast bowler in his career will face such issues and we need to manage him well. India is lucky that they have got some fine fast-bowling options. And I think when Jasprit is back and fit, it is important to identify a window for him. Like a Test series when they can bring him back. Because he is a world-class performer. You want him to be back in the team and fully fit, so we wish him a speedy recovery.

How do you look at his comeback, because now he is out of the Border Gavaskar Test series completely? How difficult or easy will it be for him to become the same Jasprit Bumrah again?

I think as a fast bowler it is taxing on your body (playing all the formats and leagues) and he has bowled a lot of overs in his career so far. So, for me, it is important to manage him well.

Who has been the most complete India fast bowler of all time in your book?

I have always been a big fan of Mohammed Shami. I think the way he possesses the seam (his knowledge and control of the seam), the way he swings the ball. He is dangerous at the death-end. For me, he has been exceptional. Even in these surfaces of South Africa, he was one of those bowlers we used to speak a lot about. For me, Shami is right up there as one of the best fast bowlers.