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England v South Africa / News
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South Africa in England 2012
Albie Morkel picks up ankle injury
Firdose Moonda at Headingley
July 31, 2012
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Players/Officials:
Faf du Plessis
| Albie Morkel
Series/Tournaments:
South Africa tour of England
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South Africa
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Albie Morkel, the South Africa all-rounder, will be out of action for up to 10 days due to an ankle and South Africa have called in Faf du Plessis as cover. Morkel will remain with the squad as he awaits results of his scans and the expectation is he will be available for the third Test if required.
Morkel, who was unlikely to come into contention for the Headingley Test, was one of the reserves who impressed in the tour match against Worcestershire last week. He scored a half-century while batsmen in the Test XI, Alviro Petersen, Jacques Rudolph and JP Duminy failed.
Morkel has only played one Test, against Australia in 2009, and was initially called up as a replacement when he took the place of fast bowler Marchant de Lange who had to leave the tour in the first week. De Lange sustained a back injury in last month's unofficial Twenty20 tri-series in June and could not recover in time for the series. Morkel was easily accessible for the visitors as he had been playing in the Friends Life t20 for Somerset
Du Plessis has recently been captaining South Africa A in a fifty-over tri-series in Zimbabwe, which also included Sri Lanka A. His much improved first-class record in the previous season, in which he batted at No.4 or 5 instead of lower down as was the case previously for his franchise Titans, has put him in contention for a Test spot recently. During the 2011-12 season he scored 599 runs from four matches including three hundreds.
He is also due to lead South Africa A in a series against Ireland which starts next Monday. If he is not required for a Test debut at Headingley, which would only come about due to injury, he will leave the squad on Thursday and join up with the A team in Wicklow.
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent
Feeds: Firdose Moonda
© ESPN EMEA Ltd.
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Tour Results
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- Sep 8, 2012
South Africa won by 7 wickets (with 6 balls remaining)
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Faf or Albie can play at 7 behind Duminy at 6 unless Rudolph really scores in the 2nd test 2nd innings. That gives SA 6 bowlers incl Kallis.
Posted by RandyOZ on (August 1, 2012, 13:02 GMT)I've liked what i've seen of Faf, much the same mould as Jaques Kallis/
Posted by satish619chandar on (August 1, 2012, 12:34 GMT)Faf will be a very good option in case anyone fails.. He would be a better choice as per current combination and can replace in case any of Duminy, Alviro or Rudolph goes wrong.. Excellent fielder and a half spinner..
Posted by R_U_4_REAL_NICK on (August 1, 2012, 11:55 GMT)@BlackInWhites (post on July 31 2012, 13:53 PM GMT): totally agree, that's just what I was going to type. I'm not really understanding what SA are planning with all this squad-changing stuff. I thought the whole idea of 'substitutes' was 'like-for-like replacements', unless there's huge differences in pitches during a series where one team might prefer, for example, to field two spinners for a game or two. Petersen at the top of the order is the only SA under the spot-light, so maybe Du Plessis could get a run?
Posted by TsoroM on (August 1, 2012, 6:17 GMT)Good replacement indeed. I think Faf's as ready as anyone to come into the SA test set up. I see him taking the opportunity with both hands if granted with it. He is contastantly improving his technique and has strong presence of mind...
Posted by Robster1 on (August 1, 2012, 3:16 GMT)With his imminent arrival for the one day series would it also have made sense to call up McLaren a little early - especially for his bowling at Headingley.
Posted by SCC08 on (July 31, 2012, 20:12 GMT)@ThePrtoeasMan - called the same thing the other night.. I wouldnt be surprised if they actually do that.. Hope so! Better fielder, batsmen and can bowl if need be. Hope they do....
Posted by SCC08 on (July 31, 2012, 20:10 GMT)Faf is the perfect replacement @Blackinwhites.. Why bring over another bowler to carry drinks, we already have Lopsy in that position..
Posted by TheProteasMan on (July 31, 2012, 14:48 GMT)Good Plan by SA. Now we can get Rudolph to open n put Faf at 7 . Alviro is out of his depth opening in English conditions as the Warm up's ,Test match and his county stint would suggest
Posted by BlackInWhites on (July 31, 2012, 13:53 GMT)First it was De Lange (a specialist bowler) then came Morkel (an all-rounder) and now its Du Plessis (a specialist batsman)..... I wonder what the selectors' intentions are in selecting a player of different skill every time... This position is cursed, I hope Du Plessis lives to see the 3rd test...