On the eve of the one-day series, Andy Afford caught up with the brothers Morkel, Albie and Morne. Sheltering under the pavilion at Wormsley in advance of the tourists’ game with the PCA Masters, the pair spoke about their early days in the back garden, of their trust in each other and of their aspirations to join South Africa’s pantheon of great all-rounders.
Article orginally published in AOC 48, October 2008.

In my experience, interviewing South African cricketers can be an exacting job for any writer. Without being wilfully difficult, as strata of the cricketing fraternity they can be succinct in their answers, making them appear at times evasive, almost grumpy in their dealings with the media. Due to the tight-knit nature of family life in the country, they are not always the most worldly of individuals, particularly those of Afrikaaner descent; and speaking in their second language, albeit a close second, can prove difficult for all concerned. On paper, it’s not exactly the dream gig.

Albie and Morne Morkel should be perfect illustrations of the point. Hailing from Vereeniging in South Africa’s Transvaal heartland, Morne spelling aloud the name of the family’s hometown, pronouncing each letter with the requite number of tongue clicks, ‘Xs’ and ‘O’ sounds associated with the language of the high veldt. The smile reveals that behind the harsh vowels lies an altogether gentler young man. “We are from a tiny place, just south of Johannesburg,” states one of the world’s most promising and intimidating young quick bowlers, before hammering his tongue against the roof of his mouth in pronunciation. “It’s a small Afrikaans community, a place where our parents still live.”

Morne, at 23, is the youngest of three Morkel brothers born to Albert, a domestic one-day player for Southern Transvaal Country Districts, and now head of a local private coaching academy. Albie, at 27, is the middle son. Leaving Malan, a promising cricketer whose career was thwarted by injury, as the eldest.

Albie, more serious than Morne, speaks fondly of family life. “My earliest memory of organised cricket is playing at school, maybe aged six or seven. But my favourite memories are of the backyard games that we played at home. When we had all the neighbours’ kids over it was quite a game. We all bowled and batted…”

Cut off in mid-flow, and not for the only time during the interview, Morne butts in, sporting a huge grin, but averting his elder sibling’s gaze: “Whatever he said about getting a bat, I know that I did all of the bowling and all of the fielding. When we were kids I bowled to them all day, every day!”

Albie, very much the pair’s unofficial spokesperson and more worldly-wise member, finishes off the passage with a final anecdote. “All four of us [brothers and father] have batted left-handed and bowled right-handed,” he says, looking in the direction of Morne “That is pretty unusual. When we all play golf, we go round as an all left-handed four ball – it’s quite a sight, although the courses always seem set up against us.”

“Me, being the baby of the family,” adds Morne, “I always used to go and watch them play for their club sides. Invariably there would be someone injured or a no-show and I’d be asked to field or stand in for them. I would always have my whites with me.”

In the Test series, Morne claimed 15 victims at 33 apiece, the side’s highest return; and Albie has been warming up for the ODIs with Durham, hitting the ball into the next parish

The pair are hugely talented. Although both have pace, Morne is the quicker bowler of the two, with Albie the more destructive batsman and a brilliant one-day cricketer who demolished England in the World Twenty20 last year. A combination of the two would create one of the very best of all-rounders. We are meeting at JP Getty’s Cricket Ground at Wormsley, on the eve of the Proteas’ opening one-day encounter with the PCA Masters. Morne has been with the national side for the Test series, claiming 15 victims at 33 apiece, the side’s highest return. Albie has been warming up for Durham, hitting the ball into the next parish.

As the pair speak, the flow of the conversation is very natural. Generally, it’s Albie leading things off, allowing Morne time to speak when he’s done. And I’m not sure why, but that surprised me. I was expecting Morne, as the man with ten Tests under his belt and a bulging reputation, to do the talking. But that isn’t the case. It’s Albie, uncapped at Test level despite having played 24 ODIs and 10 T20s, as the older and wiser Morkel, who takes the lead role. Morne is young for his years, whereas Albie seems much older.

I ask Morne what it’s like to be out there in the field with his big brother. “I find it fantastic on the field to have someone so close to me that I can go to when I need advice. He is someone who is more or less my go-to man. If I’m bowling the death overs I can speak to him for ideas of where I need to bowl or about the batsmen and what they might be looking to do.” As Morne looks in the direction of his brother, Albie picks up the question. “If I can help him in any way I will. We’ve always played together. But I don’t compete against Morne. We are two different players. And there can’t be many instances where you get to play international sport with your brother.”

As far as heroes goes, Morne cites the predictable names of Glenn McGrath and Allan Donald as poster boys, whilst speaking at length of the influence of playing alongside Shaun Pollock in his ascent as a quick bowler. Although he seems disappointed how he felt his form fell away at the end of the tour he does speak animatedly of the experience of winning in England – the first time for the Proteas since 1965. “It’s been unbelievable for me, the past couple of months. Spending time with the likes of Makhaya Ntini – especially on the field – and especially when we’ve been under pressure. He’s an awesome guy to call on.

“The same with Jacques Kallis. To pick their brains has been invaluable. And also before this series, the time I spent with Shaun Pollock was immense. My place on the development road would not have gone the way it has without the help of Shaun.”

Albie speaks of his love of the doughty, unflinching Kepler Wessels. A former captain of South Africa, a left-hander who liked to cut the ball and was a wearer of the same red helmet sported by the young Morkel. And of the modern era, Brett Lee and Kevin Pietersen tick his boxes. How does Albie Morkel feel about stepping into the tradition of world-class all-rounders from his country? “Obviously, looking back over the years there has been lots of great South African all-rounders. I don’t see myself in that class yet. But I hope over the next couple of years that I can establish myself in the side as a good all-rounder. For me to be even classed in that bracket would be an honour.”

‘I don’t compete against Morne. We are two different players, and there can’t be many instances where you get to play international sport with your brother’ – Albie Morkel

Tucked in an alcove with team members regularly sticking their heads around the pavilion door, speaking in Afrikaans, our time looks close to being up. Graeme Smith puts more than just his head around the door to inquire what’s happening. He’s a big boy, that Graeme Smith. I ask the brothers if there is a problem. Although I’ve heard Afrikaans spoken aggressively from 22 yards on many an occasion, I’m not exactly fluent. With most people jumping to the captain’s tune, particularly when seeing the opportunity to wind up an interview early, I expect the pair to head indoors. But it doesn’t happen. Everything is fine. They’ve said they will do the interview to a natural conclusion and we continue with one final round of questions.

I ask how this pair of straightforward and straight edge young men spend their money. “Spending my money? I’m saving it!” states Morne, “I’ve bought some land in South Africa and all my money is going into a house – all in the piggy bank. A house costs about £100,000 and I’m saving for that.” Albie is similar, unsurprisingly. “Priorities-wise, I got married a couple of months ago.” “He’s buying diapers!” interjects Morne playfully, before receiving ‘the look’ from his big bro. “It’s all geared at the moment to setting my family up. Family life is important. The whole family, all of us are nature lovers and we have a small game farm which helps us get away from things. We also like to go to the coast, fishing. There’s some big stuff in the sea.”

A quickfire round of questions later and then handshakes. The pair will be playing against England in the one-day series. Everyone now knows what Morne Morkel is capable of: South Africa have a champion bowler in their midst. It will be down to his older brother to put down his marker. Dreams are coming true for these young men. I wouldn’t bet against them continuing in the finest traditions of their country. And as we well know, fast bowling all-rounders make the world go around.