Morris enjoying rise to the top By Stuart Hess Johannesburg – A lot of players delight in the excitement of playing for their country – few, though, do it with Chris Morris’s exuberance. A year after getting his first taste of the national side – albeit in an unofficial capacity on a short tour to Zimbabwe – Morris still marvels when Allan Donald calls him. “I k@kked myself the other night when my phone rang and it was Allan Donald,” Morris says, with a chuckle. A year of interacting with his childhood hero means, however, that exchanges now with the South African team’s bowling coach are less formal – “it’s not ‘Mr Donald’ anymore, it’s ‘howzit Al’, and then I want to melt in my chair.” Morris’s international career is still in its fledgling stage – he has just three One-Day and two T20 International caps to his name – but his journey from semi-professional provincial cricketer to playing against England at The Oval has been a rapid one. “I can’t explain it, I still pinch myself that this has all happened, how quickly it’s happened. A year ago I would have kicked you in the shin and then laughed at you (if told this is how it would turn out).” From opening the bowling for North West and taking showers at Willowmoore Park three years ago, Morris, in the past 12 months, has established himself as the Highveld Lions spearhead, experienced the glitz, glamour and distastefulness of the IPL and played for his country at a global tournament. Morris first emerged into the spotlight in the domestic T20 competition in 2011/12 when he finished as the leading wicket-taker with 21. Global recognition followed at the Champions League last year, as did a fat cheque. The Lions’ group win over the Chennai Super Kings at Newlands put Morris firmly in their sights and they would eventually pay $625 000 (R6.2-million) for his services for the recent IPL. “India had a massive impact on my life. Not just cricket, though I learnt a lot about the game and different conditions. The biggest thing, though, was the lifestyle. To see the billionaires and then the slums, what a massive difference. It was a massive life change for me in that it made me realise how fortunate I am to be playing cricket and being paid well to do something that I love. It gave me a wake-up call, it was humbling.” Bowling in Chennai was an eye-opening – and lung-burning – experience but it accelerated his development as a bowler and re-emphasised the importance of variety. “There was a stage where all I wanted to do was play for the Lions. I was just hungry to play professional cricket, because that’s been my dream. To get my call – up (for Zim) meant I had to reset my goals. I got a taste of what I wanted to do,” says the 26-year-old. “I said to myself beforehand to be prepared for the heat, but you cannot prepare yourself. It tested me properly, mentally. My second game at home against Pune, I got three wickets and I thought my lungs were going to burst, that’s genuine, because it was so hot.” Expanding his game also entails pestering coaches and teammates for information, something Morris values. “To be in the change room with those guys … (Mike) Hussey, (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni, even Dirk Nannes, who was here at the Lions, there was so much experience. And then there’s (Chennai coach Stephen) Fleming and (Chennai bowling coach Andy) Bichel, who must have been so irritated with me towards the end – he wasn’t – but I stuck to him as much as I could. If I could get one piece of information off that guy a week, that’s going to help my career and I’m going to stick with it.” Morris leaves with the South African side on Sunday for a short tour to Sri Lanka, which will include five ODIs and three T20s. “I know it’s bloody hot. That’s the first thing Imran Tahir said to me: ‘Congratulations. Oh, Sri Lanka, it’s so hot.’ And I’m thinking, please ‘don’t tell me that’. I promise you I’m packing board shorts and vests. I’m not even taking a jersey with me. If it’s anything like India, I’m going to die. But jokes aside, I’ve gone on to YouTube a bit to look at things.” His experience of sub-continent conditions picked up in the IPL will stand him in good stead, but Morris also tapped up Dale Steyn for information. “He said you have to be lot straighter than usual and lengths are valuable. It will be tough conditions, but I’m excited for any opportunity. I’m just over the moon to be selected for the tour. It just shows that hard work does pay, it’s been an unbelievable amount of hard work in the last three years. Starting from North West and it’s nice to see it paying off. I’ll give my heart and soul like you’ve seen all along.” His game time for the national side may only have been restricted to the limited-overs formats, but having earned those colours he’s aware of the responsibility that now rests with him. “I’m a Protea, but I have a responsibility to prove why I am a Protea. That comes with added pressure but I enjoy that.” – The Star
Posted on: Fri, 12 Jul 2013 14:56:59 +0000
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