BAD NEWS for county batsmen everywhere – Morne Morkel isn’t going anywhere any time soon.
The former South African Test star has been a wrecking ball this season in Surrey’s seemingly inexorable march to the title – taking 25 wickets in just four County Championship games so far.
Initially signed on a two-year Kolpak deal, Morkel and his family already feel so at home in south London that the 6ft 5in seamer is entertaining ideas of extending that stay further.
“I am definitely interested in staying longer,” he told The Cricket Paper. “Two years initially felt like a good sort of gauge for me to find out where I am at with the body.
“But I like to set goals for myself and we will assess again next summer, both physically and mentally, but at the moment I am still feeling very good, training well and hungry to play. Hopefully that can continue and I can play here for another couple of years.”
Morkel, who turns 34 in October, retired from international cricket at the start of the year after a stellar Proteas career that yielded 309 wickets from 86 Tests.
And while he arrived at Surrey nursing a torn side muscle, he hasn’t taken long to find his feet at the Oval and spearhead their push for glory.
He added: “The move was quite easy, everyone at Surrey has gone out of their way to make life comfortable and easy – particularly bringing my family and moving everything over here.
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