'It is tough on the body': Chris Morris on injuries in South Africa's T20 World Cup camp

TimesofIndia.com in Johannesburg: Former South Africa all-rounder Chris Morris believes the timing of the SA20 could prove invaluable for the Proteas ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

Speaking about the league’s role as high-intensity preparation, Morris highlighted the growth of local talent, the impact of varied pitches and the confidence gained by players.




He singled out established internationals and emerging youngsters, weighed in on the balance between seam and spin, and reflected on the physical demands of packed schedules -- which has seen South Africa replace injured Tony De Zori and Donovan Ferreira with Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs in their squad.

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From SA20’s influence on South Africa’s resurgence to the evolution from earlier leagues, Morris offers a candid, experience-driven perspective.

Excerpts:

SA20 will finish days before the T20 World Cup starts; how important is that for planning? Which South African players have impressed you the most in the ongoing SA20 Season 4?

I think it's been a great run out for the guys that are obviously in the (T20 World Cup) squad. Even the guys that aren't in the squad, I think it's been a great performance from them.

A lot of the leagues, sometimes you rely a lot on your overseas players. I like to think that a lot of the South African players stepped up nicely.

There's no better practice going into a big tournament than playing cricket. It's been competitive cricket. There's been some difficult pitches that the guys have played on which I've really enjoyed. It does prep you quite well for a World Cup coming up.

I've been really impressed by a guy called Jordan Hermann (of Sunrisers Eastern Cape). I think he's definitely got something about him. He usually bats up at the top of the order. And now, in this series (SA20), he's been batting in the middle of the T20s. And I think he's got something about him. He's got the big game. He's got the small game. Good in field and a good team, man. So, I've been really impressed by him.

Let's go young - Nqobani Mokoena. I think he's definitely got something about him. I mean, he's only 19 years old. He's in the league now, playing for Paarl Royals. And I think he's definitely got a bright future ahead of him. I think he has been brilliant. The way he's gone about the big moments in the game. The way he's controlled his bowling and controlled his emotions throughout the big moments. So, I'm very chuffed with him.

We have seen a lot of seamers do really well this season. What does that mean going into a T20 World Cup where the pitches will be more spin friendly?

Look, I think Keshav Maharaj has bowled beautifully. That's been vital to the Pretoria Capitals doing well. He's bowled really well. He's led well. But when he's coming, he's coming in crunch moments. And maybe a slightly slower start to the tournament. But he's figured out how to do the business on different types of pitches. So, very chuffed to see him doing well.

George Linde has bowled really nicely. And if we can get those two bowling in tandem and really asking the right questions of international batters, then we'll be in good stead.

I'm a big fan of spinners in T20 cricket because I do think they affect the game a lot, even when the wicket is good. We've seen at a place like Centurion, it's a paradise to bat on. But when you look at the stats, the spinners are the ones that actually break partnerships. So, like I said, it's been all in all a good run-up because we've had different types of wickets.

And for our spinners, our seamers, our batters, it's been a good build-up because the wickets haven't been as consistent as they have been in the past in South Africa. So, it's been a nice run-up for the boys.

South Africa have made two injury-induced changes to their T20 World Cup squad and more could happen still. How do you see this situation play out?

Look, I think the proof's in the pudding. I think we've had a few guys that have gone down with injuries, unfortunately.

It is a very tight schedule. That's unfortunate. That's the nature of the beast that we – you know, and players, they knew what was coming. Obviously, you're playing day in, day out.

But don't put it past the IPL. It's the same, because you've obviously got travelling, you've got games, high-intensity games, you go to bed late at night and next morning you're up, you're travelling, and then you've got to go to a hotel, check-in, and the next day you've got training and recovery and all of that. So it is about man management.

Obviously, the coaching staff, they know exactly what they need to do. Potentially, there could be a case of maybe rotating squads, but when you've got a good team that's winning and trying to get into a playoff, you don't really want to do that. So it's difficult.

It really is tough on the body. Mentally, it really does drain you. But at the end of the day, you find a way. As we always talk about in cricket, as a professional cricketer, you find a way to do something. You find a way to win a game. You find a way to almost say get up for the game, which means getting ready for the game. You want to be excited. There's something to play for.

It is tough, but unfortunately we've got a couple of injuries, hopefully not too bad. And should be ready for the World Cup.

In terms of the ODI World Cup that South Africa will host in 2027, is it too early to tell how things will play out based on this competition itself?

Listen, it's a year and a couple of months from now. So, it will be very early to call it. South Africa were trying to do drop-in pitches, and Wanderers has used it, and they were quite impressed with it.

All those different elements might be turned on next year. We might have a dry year, and the wickets will be very true. But I've got no doubt, every single time there's been a big tournament in South Africa, the wickets have been really good. So, I've got no doubt in that.

South Africa are the reigning World Test Championship winners and runners-up of the T20 World Cup. Do you think there's a correlation between the SA20's emergence and the Proteas doing well?

Absolutely. Look, it's quite nice to have a league that's on the world stage. Our domestic cricket has been shown around the world, but it's nice to have an actual league that is competing with all the other leagues around the world. And obviously, the Indian influence with the IPL teams and stuff coming in.

A blind man can see that it's made a massive impact on cricket in South Africa. To get some of the big names around the world to come and play in our league. I think the international players enjoy coming here. The crowds are always here. The cricket's good. That's the main reason, the cricket's really good.

And like I said, it's not too long, which is also nice. I think a lot of guys love bringing their families here. They get to experience different things. SA20 is a phenomenal, phenomenal product. Hopefully it continues for quite a few years from now because I absolutely do love being part of it.

You were part of the previous rendition of the T20 competition in South Africa (Mansi Super League). How do you see that being different from SA20? And what sort of improvements that have taken place?

Look, again, I'll just say it straight. It's the influence of the IPL teams. The teams that are known to households in South Africa. You know, we watch IPL every single year. People watch every single game. And when you've got teams like that, people can start supporting an IPL team in South Africa.

There's a lot of teams missing, obviously, from the SA20 that are in the IPL. But, you know, maybe in the future there will be new teams.

And when you've got that support base already in South Africa and you bring those teams across here, that's quite easy to dig into something. And world-class players, world-class cricket in a country that really loves its cricket. So I think that's the difference.

In modern day cricket, which is tougher - being a batting all-rounder or bowling all-rounder?

Listen, I think there's no facet of the game that isn't easy, that isn't difficult. I mean, whether you're a batter, you're a bowler, it's all difficult. All-rounders, obviously, we've got three jobs – bat, you bowl, you field.

Some days it's not going to go well with the ball. But the nice thing is you can always make it up with the bat. And some days it's not going to go well with the bat, you can make it up with the ball. So it's a tough gig being an all-rounder.

But, listen, those are the guys – that's the engine room, as I call them. Those are the guys that make the difference in games at the end of the day, the all-rounders. Because you can change the game in any aspect.



As far as a favourite, I probably would have to say I preferred bowling. Yeah, I didn't really enjoy facing the faster boys towards the end of my career. They were rather quick and, you know, me dishing out a few bounces, I knew they were coming back to me.

My main role in the team was to bowl, as simple as that. So I probably focused more on my bowling because that would have been my way into the team. And the fact that I could bat and the fact that I could actually hopefully change a game towards the end was a bonus.

But bowling was – I mean, I love the fact being at the end of a game and potentially my role was to try and save a game or try and get the winning wicket or defend 10 of the last over. There's no bigger thrill than that.

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