Albie Morkel opens up to ESPNcricinfo about his plans for an international comeback, dealing with depression, and the difficulty of switching IPL teams every season
Arun Venugopal19-Apr-2015Albie Morkel has admitted that the World T20 in India next year is on his “radar”, should he produce strong performances in the domestic circuit this summer to catch the selectors’ eye.”Definitely, that’s on my radar if I can perform really strongly back home this summer,” Morkel told ESPNcricinfo. “Then I know I will have a chance, and I’ll really like to play in another T20 World Cup.”Morkel, who has played 58 ODIs and 49 T20Is apart from a lone Test against Australia, last put on a South Africa shirt during the World T20 in Bangladesh in 2014, where his team lost to India in the semi-final. He was picked primarily for his finishing skills with the bat, but he fared poorly, scoring 33 runs in four innings.There wasn’t much to show for with the ball either, as he picked up one wicket from five matches at an economy-rate of 9.20.While Morkel missed the South African domestic T20 tournament last season with an ankle injury, he played a pivotal role in guiding Titans to the Momentum One-Day Cup title. Morkel aggregated 280 runs in six innings at an average of 93.33, including an unbeaten 134 in the final against Cape Cobras. His seam-bowling also reaped five wickets in the tournament at less than four runs an over.Morkel had said two years ago that he didn’t see himself playing for South Africa again, a statement, he said, was misunderstood. “When I said, ‘I don’t think I will play for South Africa again,’ it’s not that I said ‘I don’t like to.’ I am just being realistic.”Also I am at an age where the South Africa selectors are building for the future. That doesn’t necessarily mean I have no desire to play for South Africa. It doesn’t mean I don’t want to try or train harder or stay motivated. I think it was written about a couple of years, just flew a little out of what I actually meant.”Morkel has been an IPL regular, having represented Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the past. Turning out for Delhi Daredevils this year, Morkel’s counter-punching unbeaten 73 off 54 balls nearly got his team over the line against Super Kings. He hasn’t played another game since, having had to make way for Angelo Mathews.Morkel said it was a challenge to get used to different teams, given the limited time players spend with one another during the IPL. “Obviously I have spent time with Chennai so you get used to how things work with the team. And then RCB, it’s difficult to do it in one year. With the IPL being in Dubai and India [last year], it was a bit disruptive.”This time I have really had a good three weeks in Delhi in the training camp prior to the IPL. That helped us get to know everyone as a person and build relationships. And also I think Gary Kirsten and the support staff have done an outstanding job to create a cricket environment.”Daredevils had a familiarly worrying start, suffering two last-ball defeats, but have since reeled two successive wins on the road. Morkel said the positive vibes in the team had impacted the performance.”Delhi has had two bad seasons where I think they have lost 10 games [11] in a row. It’s always challenging to step into an environment like that, but as players you can either just carry on like you have been carrying on or you can try and make a difference.”Every single guy that’s part of Delhi this year has made the decision to turn the ship around. I am sure you have seen in the performances you are getting to see a different Delhi side this year, they are upfront.”As someone who has played across the world, Morkel admitted life as a professional cricketer could be lonely at times, one that could seed depression.”I went through that phase when I reached the burnout stage. That was a case of overdoing it. I played the domestic season, I played in the IPL, Champions League, I played county cricket in England, and I played the Caribbean [Premier] League so it was just too much for me.”I think the key is just to find a balance between playing enough cricket and also having time for yourself and your family. If you are just playing cricket day in and day out there will come a stage where normally the first thing you see is a change in the attitude, body language and then the performance.””I am at an age where the South Africa selectors are building for the future, but that doesn’t necessarily mean I have no desire to play for South Africa”•AFPMorkel spoke of the importance of family structures and the strong bond he shared with his brother Morne. “We have got a very close relationship, myself and Morne. Earlier in our careers, we shared a house with AB de Villiers, so you know, we were always there for each other.”I don’t think we have ever competed against each other. We grew up in a house that obviously had a lot of sport with dad being a cricketer. [But] there was no pressure on us to do well in sport. That’s the way we were brought up. We started to realise at about 17 or 18 that we could possibly make a career out of it.”According to Morkel, being outside the framework of the national team for lengthy periods has never been a deterrent in motivating himself. “To get out to play to the cheer of the crowd, that’s the most honest thing, and that keeps us going. The personal pride and the adrenaline you get when you’re playing as a professional cricketer. You can’t replace that.””I also really enjoy chatting about the game with the younger guys. The young guys think so much differently than we thought about the game 10 years ago, so I think the roles are reversed. The older guys learn from the younger players.”T20 cricket has really lifted the standard of all formats. And as a cricketer if you don’t grow your game you will stay behind. It’s just trying to add something to my game every time I train.”Morkel is aware he is inching towards the end of his career, but retirement, he said, could be a while away yet. “I will take it year by year now. I said two years ago two years and my body still holds up,” he said. “For me it’s all about the enjoyment factor. Let’s give it two more years.”Morkel said there wasn’t much he could have done differently in his career. “When you are looking back you will always find things you will do differently in hindsight. Sometimes I wish I knew stuff that I know now, but I know that’s not possible. I played for some successful teams and have some great memories.”