'Who's my bunny? Wait and see'
He's not naming any names, but all will be revealed soon, says Morne Morkel
Interview by Sharda Ugra
28-May-2012
Morne Morkel: fills in for the fire brigade on occasion • AFP
Which dressing room is cleaner - Delhi Daredevils or South Africa? What would you like to borrow from any of them?
Oh, most certainly the South African dressing room. It is one of our policies to keep everything clean and tidy. What happens off the field you take onto the field as well. But actually everything is quite similar. We're winning far ahead with the Proteas too. In South Africa we share so much time together and here we come together for a few weeks. At the end of the day we're all there to play cricket and to win.
Oh, most certainly the South African dressing room. It is one of our policies to keep everything clean and tidy. What happens off the field you take onto the field as well. But actually everything is quite similar. We're winning far ahead with the Proteas too. In South Africa we share so much time together and here we come together for a few weeks. At the end of the day we're all there to play cricket and to win.
If I had to take something, maybe it would be the food. I really enjoy the food they dish up at the grounds here - on the odd day, to have a naan bread and a curry would be nice.
What's your shoe size?
I'm a UK 12.
I'm a UK 12.
Everyone wants to know if you have rescued cats from trees, using your height.
I have rescued a bird that was stuck once, but not a cat, no. There was something wrapped around the bird's leg, and there were no ladders or anything. I was close and I had this big clipper thing, so I could climb into the tree and rescue the bird, luckily.
I have rescued a bird that was stuck once, but not a cat, no. There was something wrapped around the bird's leg, and there were no ladders or anything. I was close and I had this big clipper thing, so I could climb into the tree and rescue the bird, luckily.
Do you ever get angry? And shout?
I do get angry but I try not to show it to my team-mates, because that negative sort of thing can affect your team-mates. I go by the thing in the South Africa dressing room. WIN - when you write it down, it's What's Important Now. For me, it's important to focus on those things and important for my team-mates not to pick up negative vibes inside of me. Batsmen nowadays are so good at picking up the language of a bowler, and they start to think they are on top. So for me, I like to just keep it calm and relaxed.
I do get angry but I try not to show it to my team-mates, because that negative sort of thing can affect your team-mates. I go by the thing in the South Africa dressing room. WIN - when you write it down, it's What's Important Now. For me, it's important to focus on those things and important for my team-mates not to pick up negative vibes inside of me. Batsmen nowadays are so good at picking up the language of a bowler, and they start to think they are on top. So for me, I like to just keep it calm and relaxed.
Can you sense it when a batsman is panicking?
Oh yes, it's like an instinct you get. You can definitely pick up a batsman's body language from their eyes and their feet when you are running in. You notice it immediately.
Oh yes, it's like an instinct you get. You can definitely pick up a batsman's body language from their eyes and their feet when you are running in. You notice it immediately.
You got Dale Steyn's wicket at the IPL and were actually embarrassed. What was that all about?
It's the first time I've played competitive cricket against Dale. We go back a long way, and we are good mates as well, on and off the field. It was not the best ball I had bowled, and I was just surprised he hit it straight to Viru. It was nice to play against Dale. He didn't say anything to me - we are mates, so we keep it clean. Between the two of us he has the shorter temper. He's an assassin - Dale's a very angry man at times.
It's the first time I've played competitive cricket against Dale. We go back a long way, and we are good mates as well, on and off the field. It was not the best ball I had bowled, and I was just surprised he hit it straight to Viru. It was nice to play against Dale. He didn't say anything to me - we are mates, so we keep it clean. Between the two of us he has the shorter temper. He's an assassin - Dale's a very angry man at times.
So when you guys get to England in the summer are you going to be in their ear about how many South Africans they have playing for them?
I don't think it's necessary to tell them things that they know. For all cricketers it's going to be a new series. The main thing is to focus on the task ahead. The last thing you want to do is to get caught up in things like that. Always there will be heated moments and the team that is going to handle those moments best and with the most maturity is going to come out on top. We focus on our processes and not on the result, so we don't need distractions like that.
I don't think it's necessary to tell them things that they know. For all cricketers it's going to be a new series. The main thing is to focus on the task ahead. The last thing you want to do is to get caught up in things like that. Always there will be heated moments and the team that is going to handle those moments best and with the most maturity is going to come out on top. We focus on our processes and not on the result, so we don't need distractions like that.
"I don't mind TV ads - it's obviously something different. We don't understand the work behind the scenes - why do you need so many retakes; if you get one shot just be happy with that! But I don't mind, it's good for me, so I do it"
Which of the Aussies are you friendly with?
From the current team, I'm close friends with Shaun Tait. We played for the Rajasthan Royals together in the first year. I enjoy guys like Michael Clarke - he's a great leader for them and a quality player.
From the current team, I'm close friends with Shaun Tait. We played for the Rajasthan Royals together in the first year. I enjoy guys like Michael Clarke - he's a great leader for them and a quality player.
How's AB de Villiers' music career going?
Since he released his first CD, AB's under a lot of pressure to perform and sing at venues. He's also the guy who wrote the team song for the Proteas. We try to keep that discreet - but AB's the man with the voice, and things are going well for him.
Since he released his first CD, AB's under a lot of pressure to perform and sing at venues. He's also the guy who wrote the team song for the Proteas. We try to keep that discreet - but AB's the man with the voice, and things are going well for him.
Do you sing? What's the best song in your repertoire?
I wouldn't say I'm great, but I enjoy singing in a team environment. There's not actually one song, there's so many; can't name any one…
I wouldn't say I'm great, but I enjoy singing in a team environment. There's not actually one song, there's so many; can't name any one…
Who would you say is your first bunny in international cricket then?
I'm playing against him soon, so I can't reveal his name. I don't want to get it out, but hopefully it can be seen soon and the guys can pick it up and let me know.
I'm playing against him soon, so I can't reveal his name. I don't want to get it out, but hopefully it can be seen soon and the guys can pick it up and let me know.
And your best sledge?
I don't really sledge a lot, but Albie and I sledged quite a bit. I'm trying to think of a clean one. Normally when Albie and I sledge, we do it properly.
I don't really sledge a lot, but Albie and I sledged quite a bit. I'm trying to think of a clean one. Normally when Albie and I sledge, we do it properly.
How much weight can you bench-press?
As a fast bowler, I don't try to bulk up, so I focus on different things. But I think I'd get about 80-90kgs.
As a fast bowler, I don't try to bulk up, so I focus on different things. But I think I'd get about 80-90kgs.
What are Sehwag's captain's speeches like with the Daredevils?
He's a man of few words, but it's good, though. What's nice, I think, is that he is relaxed when he goes about things. He is an experienced player and all his team-mates have a great respect for Viru. There's a calmness that he brings to the dressing room which is unbelievable.
He's a man of few words, but it's good, though. What's nice, I think, is that he is relaxed when he goes about things. He is an experienced player and all his team-mates have a great respect for Viru. There's a calmness that he brings to the dressing room which is unbelievable.
Do you like doing all the TV ads? What have you done so far?
I have done a couple in India, but I don't know if they featured. There was one for a hair gel, and I've done a couple of ads for KFC back home. They are our main sponsors. We do get some KFC vouchers because of that, which is nice - there's a KFC near our house. But with KFC you need to put in a few extra hard yards.
I have done a couple in India, but I don't know if they featured. There was one for a hair gel, and I've done a couple of ads for KFC back home. They are our main sponsors. We do get some KFC vouchers because of that, which is nice - there's a KFC near our house. But with KFC you need to put in a few extra hard yards.
I don't mind TV ads - it's obviously something different. We don't understand the work behind the scenes - why do you need so many retakes; if you get one shot just be happy with that! But I don't mind, it's good for me, so I do it. Often with voiceovers or if I need to read stuff out on strips, I struggle a bit, but other than that, I'm good.
Sharda Ugra is senior editor at ESPNcricinfo