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The ECB’s anti-corruption chief has said a number of players have come forward to report possible match-fixing approaches

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Mar-2012Chris Watts, the ECB’s anti-corruption chief, has said a number of cricketers have come forward to report information linked to match-fixing. Players have taken advantage of the amnesty window for reporting incidents linked to corruption that was opened in the wake of the Mervyn Westfield trial.Westfield was sent to prison for four months in February, for accepting or obtaining corrupt payments as part of a spot-betting scam, prompting the ECB to allow players until the end of April to report any information they had previously witheld (it is an offence not to report approaches about corrupt activity).”It is a confidential reporting window but there have been some reports,” Watts told BBC Sport. “One of the reasons we put in the reporting window is to actually understand what is going on out there and what the vulnerabilities are. Once we understand that, then we can refine and fine-tune some of the preventive measures we’ve put in place.”One of the measures could be using Westfield to speak to other players about his experiences of spot-fixing. Westfield accepted £6,000 to concede 12 runs in an over playing for Essex against Durham in 2009 and could be used as part of the ECB’s education programme after his release.”He has got to be willing to do that. He did say publicly through his QC in his mitigation at his sentencing hearing that he wanted to give something back to cricket,” Watts told the . “He’s the one that has got to stand up and do it. He’s made those soundings on intent but whether they come to fruition is a matter for him.”He’s got the inside knowledge about his experience so to hear that would be very powerful. For other players to hear at first hand would be very powerful but he has got to want to do it himself.”Watts also indicated that for the first time off-field staff employed by the counties will be included in the education process, alongside players and support personnel such as coaches and physiotherapists.Watts took charge of the ECB’s new anti-corruption unit in November. He was previously a specialist in murder investigations at the Metropolitan Police. The anti-corruption unit is working with the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) to root out corruption in English cricket. The PCA has asked every professional player to complete an online tutorial about preventing corruption; they hope overseas players will also complete the tutorial.But the problem reaches beyond English cricket. PCA chief executive, Angus Porter, recently expressed his concerns over the organisation of the Bangladesh Premier League and whether sufficient anti-corruption measures were in place.Edited by Alan Gardner

Durham fast bowler Steve Harmison is likely to miss the next three County Championships games after suffering a cracked forearm

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Apr-2011Durham fast bowler Steve Harmison is likely to miss the next three County Championships games after suffering a cracked forearm. X-rays revealed a crack had occurred when Harmison was struck on the forearm during Durham’s first innings against Hampshire at the Rose Bowl last week. “Stephen, at the non-strikers end, was hit by a drive from Phil Mustard,” Durham coach Geoff Cook told . “He’s going to be two or three weeks before he can play again.”Harmison bowled just two deliveries during Hampshire’s first innings and did not bowl for the rest of the match. Durham’s next three games are against Yorkshire, Sussex and Warwickshire. The arm injury is the latest setback in the career of the 32-year-old seamer, who last played for England in the 2009 Ashes.

Zimbabwe Cricket has confirmed that India and Sri Lanka will tour the country for a tri-series between May 28 and June 9 this year

Cricinfo staff16-Mar-2010

Itinerary

• May 28: Zimbabwe v India, Bulawayo

• May 30: India v Sri Lanka, Bulawayo

• June 1: Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka, Bulawayo

• June 3: Zimbabwe v India, Harare

• June 5: India v Sri Lanka, Harare

• June 7: Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka, Harare

• June 9: Final, Harare

• June 12: Zimbabwe v India, 1st Twenty20, Harare

• June 13: Zimbabwe v India, 2nd Twenty20, Harare

Zimbabwe Cricket has confirmed that India and Sri Lanka will tour the country for a ODI tri-series between May 28 and June 9 this year. Each team plays the other twice before the final at the Harare Sports Club. India will stay back for two Twenty20 matches at the same venue on June 12 and 13.The announcement follows the postponement of New Zealand’s tour of the country over security issues. The tri-series kicks off with the home side taking on India at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, which will host the first three games.India last toured the country in 2005 for two Tests and a tri-series, also involving New Zealand. Sri Lanka last toured Zimbabwe in November 2008, sweeping the five-match ODI series. India are also likely to tour Sri Lanka in July and August for a proposed Test series and a tri-series involving New Zealand. The respective cricket boards are yet to finalise a schedule.

Cheteshwar Pujara also fires to help visitors finish day three with significant lead

Matt Roller04-Sep-20215:31

Laxman: Rohit’s adjustments more in his mindset than technique

It was worth the wait. Rohit Sharma’s first Test hundred away from home took India into a dominant position against England at The Oval, leaving them well-placed to push for a 2-1 lead in the series.Rohit shared partnerships of 83 and 153 for the first and second wicket with KL Rahul and Cheteshwar Pujara, pressing on through the third morning after seeing out 16 overs on the second evening. He batted within himself for most of the day in gloomy, overcast conditions but moved from 94 to his hundred by swinging Moeen Ali for six over long-on.

Rahul fined for dissent

India opener KL Rahul was fined 15% of his match fee for violating the ICC Code of Conduct by showing dissent at an umpiring decision.
The incident occurred during the third day of the fourth Test, in the 34th over of India’s second innings, when Rahul showed dissent on being adjudged caught behind following a review. He was also handed one demerit point for the offence, his first in 24 months.
The charges were levelled by on-field umpires Richard Illingworth and Alex Wharf, third umpire Michael Gough and fourth official Mike Burns. Rahul admitted to the Level 1 breach and accepted the penalty imposed by match referee Chris Broad, so there was no need for a formal hearing.

He was eventually dismissed in bizarre fashion, heaving a pull straight to long leg when Ollie Robinson dug the second new ball into the pitch, and when Robinson had Pujara caught in the slips via an inside edge into his back thigh five balls later, England were back in the game. But Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja – retaining his spot at No. 5 – battled through before bad light brought an early close shortly before 5.45pm local time.Rohit rode his luck at times, offering two chances to Rory Burns at second slip, but neither was taken. The first came on the second evening when he had made only six: he edged James Anderson into the cordon, but Burns appeared not to pick the ball up against the backdrop of the crowd and only realised it had come in his direction once it had brushed his foot on its way to the boundary.Rohit Sharma deposited one in the stands at long-on to get to his century•Getty Images

The second came on 31, when Ollie Robinson had him poking defensively at a wide-ish ball on a good length. Third slip had been moved into the covers shortly before, meaning Burns had to fling himself to his right; he could only get a fingertip to it, pushing it down towards third man.Anderson made the breakthrough shortly after Burns’ second drop, inducing an outside edge from Rahul. Rahul had started brightly, driving Chris Woakes down the ground for four and pulling him for six, but England bowled dry to stem the flow of runs. Anderson found a hint of movement away off the seam as Rahul came forward to defend; the on-field decision was not out, but the DRS showed a healthy outside edge.Related

• Rohit Sharma walks the tightrope to his hundred

• Stats – Rohit Sharma's first overseas Test century

Rahul gestured to the umpires that he had flicked his back pad with his bat on the way through, but replays confirmed the ball had hit the bat after that. England reviewed an lbw appeal shortly before lunch with Rohit on 42, but DRS confirmed it was an optimistic shout.Pujara started his innings brightly, admittedly helped by some loose bowling from England’s change bowlers, but had to overcome an injury scare shortly after lunch. He rolled his ankle turning at the non-striker’s end and underwent seven minutes of treatment from the physio with heavy strapping before resuming.Rohit punched Craig Overton off the back foot for two to bring up his fifty and Pujara continued to bat fluently, cutting two boundaries in the space of three balls off Overton – the second a deft, late upper-cut over the vacant gully region. Rohit cruised through the 90s, pulling Anderson for four and then bringing up his hundred with a straight six, celebrating in restrained style.Rohit’s comparative struggles overseas compared to in India have often been used as a stick to beat him with but this was further proof that he is still one of the best all-format players in the world. This was his third 50+ score in the series and his eighth Test hundred in all – three of them brought up with a six.Cheteshwar Pujara brings out the upper cut during his knock of 61•Getty Images

Pujara brought up his own half-century – his second in three innings – by steering Overton away behind square after tea, as England tried out a short-ball strategy with the second new ball looming to no great effect. The crowd were subdued, with the partnership extending past 150 as Moeen and Root’s offbreaks were milked.But Robinson struck twice in the first over bowled with the new ball to change the complexion of the day and enliven the crowd. The first was an innocuous ball, a back-of-a-length loosener which hardly got up above waist-height, which Rohit inexplicably pulled straight to long leg; five balls later, Pujara was cramped for room playing off the back foot and inside-edged to third slip via the back thigh, given out on review.Jadeja walked out to join Kohli, keeping his position at No. 5 after his surprise promotion in the first innings, and the pair saw India through to the close with Kohli again looking in superb form, creaming two cover drives away for four. They will resume with a lead of 171 on the fourth morning and while the pitch appears to have flattened out, India will be much the happier side overnight.

Australian allrounder returns to Edgbaston after missing 2023 tournament through injury

ESPNcricinfo staff21-May-2024Ellyse Perry will captain Birmingham Phoenix in the Women’s Hundred this season, taking up the role she was set to fulfil last summer before being ruled out through injury.The allrounder has played just one season of the Hundred, in 2022, scoring 134 runs in six matches. Phoenix’s plans to build a team around her in 2023 were scuppered when Cricket Australia ruled Perry out after she damaged her left knee in a preceding ODI series against Ireland.Eve Jones deputised as captain, but Phoenix failed to win a match, losing seven out of eight to finish bottom of the table. Perry and fellow overseas star Sophie Devine were among seven players retained by Phoenix in March’s draft.Related

• Jason Roy goes unselected as West Indian power-hitters dominate Men's Hundred draft

• ECB secures counties agreement on Hundred 'direction of travel'

• Mark Nicholas steps down from Southern Brave board ahead of MCC executive role

Perry’s return to Edgbaston is as much a boost for the Hundred as for her team. The 33-year-old is one of the most high-profile players in the sport with 314 caps for her country across an international career in its 18th year.She was the leading run-scorer in this season’s WPL, scoring 347 runs at 69.40 while also taking seven wickets for eventual winners Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Perry also has a wealth of leadership experience with Sydney Sixers in the Women’s Big Bash League, where she became the first player to captain 100 WBBL matches.”I’m incredibly honoured to be named Birmingham Phoenix captain,” Perry said. “It is a wonderful club which means a lot to me. It was really disappointing to miss out on joining the group last season so I’m really excited to be back this year.”I’m looking forward to joining the whole playing squad, both our existing and new players to work towards a really successful season for the Phoenix.”Elsewhere, defending women’s champions Southern Brave have announced Georgia Adams as their new captain following Anya Shrubsole’s retirement. Shrubsole signed off by helping Brave break their duck as losing finalists in the first two editions, thanks in part to Adams, who led the competition with 16 wickets.Adams is captain of Southern Vipers, the domestic women’s side who are also based at the Utilita Bowl. Last year, she achieved the double of winning the 50-over Rachel Heyhoe Flint Trophy and Twenty20 Charlotte Edwards Cup.”It’s a privilege to be taking over from Anya who was an amazing captain and someone the whole team looked up to,” Adams said. “I’m super excited to get going and really looking forward to leading a fantastic group of players and trying to defend the trophy.”Brave also confirmed James Vince will continue to lead their side in the Men’s Hundred, having guided the team to success in the inaugural 2021 season.

The legspinner believed he was a strong chance of being included on the back of his white-ball exploits

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Jan-20230:43

Zampa on missing India tour: Was told it was one of the toughest calls to make

Adam Zampa will reassess his future in red-ball cricket after being left “flat” by his omission from the Australia Test squad to tour India next month.Zampa had been told he was a strong chance of making the trip but the selectors opted to retain Mitchell Swepson as the legspinner after he toured Pakistan and Sri Lanka last year.Zampa played his first first-class match in three years when he appeared for New South Wales against Victoria in early December where he claimed three wickets. However, he also believed his white-ball international record would hold him in good stead despite an underwhelming first-class return where he averages 47.90.Related

• Zampa: Test cricket remains realistic for me

• From Test No. 2 to going home: the bizarre handling of Ashton Agar

• Agar, Swepson, Murphy – Who will partner Lyon on India tour?

• Labuschagne plotting how to tackle the Ashwin puzzle

• Scans confirm Handscomb hip injury

“I’m very disappointed. I would have loved to have been on it,” Zampa said. “Don’t know what’s next for me now, it’s two-and-a-half years until the next subcontinent tour. I thought with the way I’ve been going in international in particular that this was going to be my opportunity.”I was really excited to potentially be on this tour, give it a crack. The messaging was my style of bowling might have been handy over there. Potentially last minute that was a change of mind.”That was the messaging I got six weeks ago as well – that this was going to be a very good chance – but now that I’m not [going] I’m very flat about it and time to move on from it.”Zampa said that coach Andrew McDonald and national selector George Bailey told him his omission was one of the toughest decisions they had to make.New South Wales have three Sheffield Shield matches Zampa could appear in after the BBL before the ODI squad will head to India for the three games in late March which follow the Tests.After the India tour, Australia’s next subcontinental Test series is a two-match visit to Sri Lanka in 2025. Zampa is not looking that far ahead and will now focus on this year’s ODI World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and USA. He is currently ranked fifth among ODI bowlers and seventh in T20Is.”I’ve got two white-ball World Cups before that [Sri Lanka]. Don’t know what’s in store for me red-ball cricket-wise. Will just through this Big Bash and reconsider,” he said. “I’m not going to close the door completely to red-ball cricket. Life is always about balance and I’ve got a family and these white-ball tours and World Cups that are coming up so I’ve got to try and think about what’s best for my body, myself, my family.”Australia’s frontline spin attack in India will feature Swepson, Nathan Lyon, Ashton Agar and the uncapped offspinner Todd Murphy.

Netherlands international ended playing career after T20 World Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Dec-2021Ryan ten Doeschate will join Kent as a batting coach in his first full-time role since retiring from professional cricket earlier this year.Ten Doeschate, who turned 41 in June, retired from the game after playing for Netherlands in the T20 World Cup in October following the end of the county season.He travelled to South Africa on Netherlands’ aborted tour as a mentor and was tipped by Ryan Campbell, their head coach, as a potential successor in that role, but has opted to sign a deal with Kent, where he will work alongside his former Essex team-mate Matt Walker developing young batters like Zak Crawley and Jordan Cox.Related

• Ryan ten Doeschate appointed KKR fielding coach for IPL 2023

• Ten Doeschate named Netherlands mentor for SA tour

• Ten Doeschate took call not to play final game before retirement – Campbell

• Ten Doeschate to retire from professional cricket at end of 2021

• Campbell tips ten Doeschate to take over as Netherlands coach

“I’m excited to be given the opportunity to work with Matt Walker and the Kent squad, especially with the talented group of players that have just won the Vitality Blast and will compete in Division One of next season’s LV= Insurance County Championship,” ten Doeschate said.”I’m ready to start a new chapter of my career and use my experience and that of some of the others I’ve worked with to influence and improve the players and the group.”Ten Doeschate will replace Michael Yardy, who spent two years as Kent’s batting coach but recently returned to Sussex as their academy director following Richard Halsall’s departure.Paul Downton, Kent’s director of cricket, said that ten Doeschate would bring a “winning mentality” to the club. “We are delighted to welcome ‘Tendo’ to the club following his recent retirement as an outstanding player,” he said.”He is a proven leader with two Championship wins under his captaincy at Essex, and he already has a varied coaching CV. He will bring with him a winning mentality and all the experience of a successful playing career into an ambitious Kent dressing room keen to learn.”Equally important, I have no doubt that he will fit in extremely well with Matt Walker, who he has played alongside in his career, and Simon Cook [bowling coach] to create a really exciting coaching team at Kent.”

PCB also makes substantial changes to domestic set-up, with as many as 16 coaches losing their jobs

Umar Farooq20-Aug-2020Former Pakistan internationals Mohammad Yousuf and Mohammad Zahid have been appointed to the High Performance centre as batting and bowling coaches respectively.Yousuf had a successful playing career for Pakistan, making 9720 runs in ODIs and 7530 runs in Tests, and now his shift to coaching has become a major talking point in the country. This will be his first coaching assignment after he had retired from international cricket in 2010.”My ambitions in making a career in coaching are an open secret but it was all about the timing and a proper roadmap for our future cricket in which I could contribute effectively,” he said. “I believe this is the right time for me to start my second innings as I can sense the intent and optimism in the approach. I am delighted to have been offered this opportunity and I firmly believe I can help young cricketers by transferring my knowledge and experience, which I have acquired after being part of one of the brightest and formidable eras of Pakistan cricket.”The PCB also made substantial changes to the domestic set-up, with as many as 16 coaches losing their jobs, including Azam Khan, Arshad Khan, Ijaz Ahmed Jnr, and Kabir Khan.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Abdul Razzaq will replace Kabir at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa while Basit Ali, the former SNGPL coach, takes over the reins from Azam at Sindh. Faisal Iqbal will coach Balochistan while Shahid Anwar will be in charge of Central Punjab. Both Abdur Rehman (Southern Punjab) and Mohammad Wasim (Northern) were retained. All six domestic coaches will also act as national selection committee members to assist Pakistan coach-cum-chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq.”I want to thank all the outgoing coaches for their contributions and urge them to remain involved with this great game as the PCB is optimistic there will be future opportunities in the game, both as coaches and consultants,” Nadeem Khan, PCB’s director of High Performance, said in a statement.”When the PCB had launched the revamped domestic structure last year on 29th August, it had announced it was an evolving process and changes will be made to further strengthen the structure. Due to paucity of time last season, the coaches couldn’t be appointed through a review, analysis and recruitment process, which we have corrected this year.”Razzaq’s appointment, in particular, has raised a few eyebrows as the only coaching experience the former allrounder has is a short stint with Quetta Gladiators in the PSL a few seasons ago. Iqbal, the new Balochistan coach, has had two stints with Karachi Kings in the PSL. Atiq-uz-Zaman, who had been rejected by the PCB less than a year ago for an Under-19 role, has now been appointed fielding and wicketkeeping coach at the High Performance centre.Atiq will assist Yousuf and Zahid and Mushtaq Ahmed, who is currently on tour in the UK with the national team as their spin-bowling coach, at the High Performance centre. Abdul Majeed and Mansoor Rana, who had been part of the High Performance centre, are now the fielding coach and team manager respectively of the Pakistan national side.The new changes will be effective from the upcoming season as the PCB made a decision in principle last month to start domestic cricket this year in a biosecure environment, in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The season is likely to start next month with the national T20 Cup. Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, the premier domestic tournament, is likely to played entirely in Karachi. There will be a 40-man squad for each of the six association teams this year due to concerns around the pandemic. All teams for each association will be re-selected by the newly appointed coaches through a draft process later this month.

Alan Gardner02-Apr-2019Ben Foakes has admitted he was surprised to be dropped by England for their final Test of the winter, just a few months after being named Man of the Series in Sri Lanka, but is willing to contemplate whatever potential avenues are open to him in an attempt to remain in contention for the Ashes.Foakes was left out in St Lucia, despite a fine start to his Test career that included making a century on debut, as England returned Jonny Bairstow to No. 7 in the batting order and his coveted role of wicketkeeper. Having rebalanced the side, England claimed a small-consolation victory in the third Test against West Indies, and left Foakes with a few questions about where to go next.Widely regarded as the best gloveman in the country, Foakes may now find his best route back into the team is as a specialist batsman – even discussing with Trevor Bayliss, England’s head coach, about the possibility of pitching himself as a candidate for the Test team’s troublesome No. 3 slot.It is a measure of his understated nature that Foakes was seemingly readying himself to be dropped from the outset, after replacing the injured Bairstow in Galle and then playing an instrumental role in England’s 3-0 whitewash of Sri Lanka. His debut series was “a dream come true” but a couple of unfortunate dismissals in the Caribbean – caught at short leg and playing on while pulling – contributed to him losing his place after just five Tests.”I didn’t think I’d be getting dropped that game,” he said, reflecting on his experience at Surrey’s pre-season media day. “From what you hear within [the squad] I was quite surprised to be dropped. It was a case where, without making excuses, a couple of the dismissals were quite freak dismissals.”I didn’t feel like I had had an absolute stinker. It was one of those phases. I didn’t feel like I was horribly out of form and you get dropped. I just didn’t get runs, a little bit of bad luck, and it’s over before you know it – that sort of tour. It’s obviously quite difficult to deal with that brief period.”From what I was told they wanted to get Jonny back down to No. 7 and didn’t like that balance [of Foakes keeping at No. 8]. In a county season I’ve been through many stages where I haven’t got runs and you get a long stretch. But I guess that’s the first learning of international cricket, that you don’t have that luxury. You do get dropped, you do get back in at certain stages.”Foakes had initially been planning to take some time off, after several winters of involvement with England and the Lions, so his surprise elevation to the Test side after Bairstow rolled his ankle during the ODIs in Sri Lanka was the start of an unexpected journey.”I think it was a rollercoaster, but a dream come true,” he said, “an amazing winter where I guess I didn’t think it would come about and then things went better than I could ever expect. And obviously you’ve got the other end of the spectrum, so with international cricket I guess that’s the way it is. But it was an amazing winter.”As for whether he could force his way in as a batsman – he averages 40.70 in first-class cricket, usually while playing as a keeper – Foakes is uncertain. England’s lower-middle order is the Test team’s batting stronghold, with most of the question marks around the top three, but Surrey are well-stocked with options in that area – including Foakes’ team-mate Jason Roy, who is hoping to make an Ashes case himself.But while he is a markedly different player, Foakes can perhaps look to the example of Jos Buttler, another wicketkeeper-batsman in the Test XI, for inspiration. Buttler’s return, sparked in part by his form in the IPL, was one of a number of selectorial dice rolls that paid off for England last year.”I’d play for England wherever I could get in,” Foakes said. “I’m speaking to Ed Smith next week and I’ll ask him a few questions about routes back into the team, how I can get back in.”The way the Test team is now, it’s a versatile team and there are some left-field selections and that sort of thing. I’ve never thought I could play as a batter only, I always thought I’d have to get in as a keeper but I guess the way it’s going, if I could push my case and get a lot of runs then you never know.”Obviously I’d love to bat three but I’ve never done it with keeping. There are certain steps up but I’d love to give it a go. Technically I’m quite happy, it’s obviously a more challenging place to bat but as with all new challenges you evolve, you learn. I’m not the most attacking player so am probably suited to batting up a little bit.”Whatever questions he may have for the England management, Foakes has no doubts about his desire to get back into the side. “It was something that I have worked my whole career for. To get there you will get highs and lows, but especially in Sri Lanka, the feeling out on the pitch with the guys was the best feeling I’ve ever had in cricket. So I want that again.”

South Africa fast bowler Morne Morkel will retire from international cricket at the end of the Australia Test series

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Feb-20181:55

‘I leave with a very happy heart’

South Africa fast bowler Morne Morkel has announced he will retire from international cricket at the end of the Australia Test series. South Africa will host Australia for four Tests starting March 1 in Durban.”It was an extremely tough decision but I feel the time is right to start a new chapter,” Morkel said. “I have a young family and a foreign wife, and the current demanding international schedule has put a lot of strain us. I have to put them first and this decision will only benefit us going forward.”I have loved every minute that I have played in the Proteas jersey, and I am incredibly grateful to my team mates, Cricket South Africa, and my family and friends for the support over the years. I still feel there is a lot of cricket left in me and I am excited for what lies ahead. For now, all of my energy and focus is on helping the Proteas win the upcoming series against Australia.”When South Africa were in England last year, Morkel was pursued by at least three counties as a Kolpak signing for the 2018 season. The 33-year-old was linked to a Kolpak deal most recently during the India Test series. Indian media reported that Morkel’s father said his son needed to “secure his future” and was considering the Kolpak option but Morkel strongly denied that he was nearing retirement. “There’s still plenty of goals I want to achieve. There’s no truth to that,” he said on January 15, during the Test at SuperSport Park.He will now end his international career when the fourth Test ends on April 3 in Johannesburg. Provided he plays all four matches, Morkel will finish with 87 Tests and will add to his current tally of 294 Test wickets – fifth overall for South Africa.Since making his Test debut in 2006, Morkel has been a vital part of South Africa’s most potent pace attack along with Dale Steyn, especially after Makhaya Ntini’s last Test in 2009. More recently, he led their pace attack in late 2015 in India when South Africa were without Steyn and Vernon Philander.BCCI

Morkel suffered a career-threatening back injury in 2016, which kept him out of action for most of the year. He missed series against New Zealand, Australia and Sri Lanka and only returned to the team in March 2017, in New Zealand but appeared a much improved bowler. While Morkel always had the skill of extracting bounce, on his comeback he had also developed the ability to pitch the ball up more. His consistency and menace only grew and he was South Africa’s leading wicket-taker on their tour to England in 2017.Limited-overs formats took a backseat as Morkel’s career went on. He faded into and out of the South Africa limited-overs side after finishing as their top wicket-taker in the 2015 World Cup. He was not named in the 2016 World T20 squad, did not play in the 2017 IPL as he sought to find form ahead of a demanding international season, and was unsold in this year’s auction. His involvement in the 2019 World Cup was also unclear.At the start of the summer, Morkel said he needed to discuss with new coach Ottis Gibson about whether he would feature in the white-ball set-up before deciding on his future. In the weeks that followed, Gibson said he had spoken to Morkel and explained that, like every other player, he would be considered if he performed well. Morkel played in five of the six ODIs against India and appeared to be among South Africa’s candidates for the 2019 World Cup until his retirement announcement on Monday.He will end his ODI career with 188 wickets from 117 matches at an average of 25.32 with two five-fors. In T20 internationals – which he last played in Lahore for the World XI side – he collected 47 wickets from 44 matches at an economy rate of 7.50.He ranked in the ICC’s top 10 bowlers in all formats at some stage of his career and was No. 1 in ODIs for a period in 2011.Should Morkel decide to go Kolpak – Yorkshire and Surrey are believed to be interested in signing him – he would become the latest in a line of South Africans to quit international cricket and take up a county contract. A year ago, Kyle Abbott’s departure for Hampshire sent shockwaves through the game in South Africa, with internationals such as Rilee Rossouw, Simon Harmer and Stiaan van Zyl also among those moving to the UK.