Cricket

Morne Morkel Appointed Bowling Coach of Indian Men's Cricket TeamFormer South African fast bowler Morne Morkel has been appointed as the bowling coach of the Indian men's cricket team, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Wednesday. Morkel's tenure will commence from September 1, 2023.Morkel, 39, brings a wealth of experience to the role, having played 86 Tests, 117 ODIs, and 44 T20Is for South Africa. During his illustrious career, he claimed a total of 544 international wickets, establishing himself as one of the most formidable bowlers of his generation.Morkel's appointment reunites him with chief coach Gautam Gambhir, with whom he worked at the Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The duo will be tasked with guiding the Indian team to success in upcoming tournaments, including the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.Morkel's appointment has been met with praise from the Indian cricket fraternity. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar hailed Morkel as "a great choice" for the role, citing his experience and knowledge of the game."Morne Morkel is a great choice for the bowling coach of the Indian team," Gavaskar said. "He has a lot of experience and knowledge of the game. He will be a great asset to the team."Morkel's appointment is expected to bolster the Indian team's bowling attack, which has been a concern in recent times. The team has struggled to find consistency in their bowling, particularly in the death overs. Morkel's expertise and experience will be invaluable in addressing these issues.The Indian team is currently preparing for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023, which will be held in the United Arab Emirates from August 27 to September 11. Morkel's appointment is expected to provide a much-needed boost to the team's preparations for the tournament.

Former South African fast bowler Morne Morkel is set to join the Indian cricket team's coaching staff as their new bowling coach. The appointment, made under head coach Gautam Gambhir, comes at a crucial juncture as the team prepares for a three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka and the upcoming home series against Bangladesh in September.Morkel's addition to the coaching staff is part of an ongoing assessment by Gambhir and the management to refine the team's coaching framework ahead of future competitions. The strategic move casts uncertainty on the position of the interim bowling coach, Sairaj Bahutule, given Morkel's specialization in fast bowling.The decision on whether to maintain a dedicated spin bowling coach to work alongside Morkel remains pending. Should Bahutule continue in his role, the coaching staff would include two assistant coaches, Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate, a bowling coach (Morkel), a fielding coach (T Dilip), and potentially a spin bowling coach, under the direction of head coach Gambhir.Morkel's appointment is expected to bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the Indian team. The former Proteas pacer played 86 Tests, 117 ODIs, and 44 T20Is for South Africa, taking a total of 544 international wickets. He was known for his accuracy, pace, and ability to swing the ball both ways.The Indian team is currently in Sri Lanka for a limited-overs series, which includes three T20Is and three ODIs. The T20I series has already been won by India, with the ODIs set to commence on August 2.

Former South African fast bowler Morne Morkel is reportedly set to become the next bowling coach of the Indian cricket team. The news comes after discussions between Morkel and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), following a recommendation from new head coach Gautam Gambhir.Morkel, who played for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and was part of the title-winning team under Gambhir's captaincy in 2014, is expected to join the Indian team after the upcoming Sri Lanka series.However, Cricbuzz reports that Morkel will not travel to Sri Lanka for the T20I and ODI series, with former India spinner Sairaj Bahutule serving as the interim bowling coach.Morkel's appointment as bowling coach is seen as a significant move, given his experience as a player and coach. He has previously served as the bowling coach of the Pakistan cricket team and has worked alongside Gambhir as the bowling coach of the Lucknow Super Giants.In addition to Morkel, Gautam Gambhir has also appointed Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate as assistant coaches for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour. Nayar, who played three ODIs for India, and Ten Doeschate were part of Gambhir's coaching staff at the Kolkata Knight Riders when they won the IPL in 2024.T Dilip will continue as the fielding coach for the Indian team.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is actively considering former South African pacer Morne Morkel as a potential bowling coach for the Indian cricket team. This development comes after Gautam Gambhir, the newly appointed head coach, expressed his desire to include Morkel in the support staff.Morkel, who played 86 Tests, 117 ODIs, and 44 T20Is for the Proteas, has a wealth of experience and a proven track record as a successful bowler. He was Pakistan's bowling coach during the ODI World Cup in India last year but resigned before his contract expired.Gambhir and Morkel have a history of working together, having been part of Andy Flower's support staff at the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for two seasons. Gambhir has always been a vocal admirer of Morkel's bowling abilities, describing him as the "fiercest bowler he had ever faced."The BCCI has reportedly held talks with Morkel, who is currently living in Sydney with his family. One of the considerations for Morkel is the extensive travel required for the India job, given his young family.If Morkel accepts the role, he will replace Paras Mhambrey, who was part of Rahul Dravid's support staff for the past three years. Morkel could potentially join former KKR teammate Ryan ten Doeschate and Nayar in Gambhir's support staff.The BCCI is also keen on retaining fielding coach T Dilip from the outgoing Dravid regime. The final decision on the support staff is expected to be made soon.