'Subcontinental pitch' irks Morne Morkel

DURBAN: Morne Morkel performed a miracle of sorts when he proved his fitness and found a place in the playing XI of the second Test. But the lanky paceman said that it was his desperation to be part of Jacques Kallis's farewell Test that played a big role in him playing the Test.

"I wanted to play this Test for Jacques. We have been part of the same team for so long and it came as a shock to me just like anyone else when he announced his decision a couple of days earlier," Morkel said, adding that the emotions were running high in the SA dressing room.

The paceman had worked very hard with the physio to get fit for this game. "He almost worked magic for me, I didn't expect to play this game when I got injured," Morkel confessed.

He also sounded disappointed with the quality of track that was on offer at Kingsmead. It's low and slow and there's hardly anything in it for the SA pacers. "Obviously, when we saw the track, we couldn't be too enthusiastic. It's more of a subcontinent type wicket. But we just got that out of our heads and looked to work hard. The likes of Pujara played really well," Morne said.

The pitch came as a surprise to the Indian team too. "The pitch is flat and the bowlers have to work really word to get something out of this track," bowling coach Joe Dawes said.

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Shweta Pandey

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