The IPL's biggest South African beneficiary must be Chris Morris, who sold for US$625,000 at the 2013 auction and US$1 million three years later. Morris is a bowling allrounder, who often sends the speedgun beyond 140kph and bats fearlessly in the lower-order. He is also a handy slip-fielder, and in that regard, he takes after his father, former Northern Transvaal first-class cricketer Willie.

Morris was a late bloomer, who made his first-class debut at 22 and only came to the attention of the national selectors when he was well into his mid-20s. He finished the 2011-12 season as the leading wicket-taker in the domestic T20 competition, with 21 scalps at 12.66 and was picked to play a T20 tri-series in Zimbabwe.

Later that year, he showed his skills for his franchise, the Lions, in the 2012 Champions League. Morris combined with the likes of Sohail Tanvir and Dirk Nannes to provide a powerful seam attack and take the team to final of the competition. On the basis of that tournament, he was one of the big buys of IPL and went to Chennai Super Kings for more than 31 times his base price of US$20,000

Despite his T20 fame, Morris insisted he was not a limited-overs specialist and the numbers backed him up. Morris had a promising 2010-11 first-class season, when he averaged over 60 with the bat, albeit in the provincial, not franchise division, in South Africa. He also led the Lions' charge in the 2012-13 Sunfoil Series and finished with 32 wickets at 16.00 and three years later was rewarded with a Test call-up.

In the 2015-16 summer, with South Africa's bowling reserves depleted by injury, Morris debuted at the New Year's Test against England. He made more of an impression as a batsman with 69 in his first match and he took that form into limited-overs' cricket as well.

Six days after being picked up by Delhi Daredevils for a millions dollars, Morris proved his worth. He struck 62 off 38 balls to see South Africa draw level in the fourth match of a five-game rubber against England and later took them to a similarly thrilling win in a T20. Morris' bowling did not light up the park in the same way and he struggled through the 2016 World T20.
Fridose Moonda