Watch: Bowling coach Morne Morkel turns net bowler for underfire KL Rahul ahead of Pune Test, says 'Whenever I can get an opportunity...'

Former South Africa pacer Morne Morkel turned net bowler at Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) stadium, Pune ahead of the second Test against New Zealand. The bowling coach bowled to middle-order batter KL Rahul who has been facing harsh criticism after he registered scores of 0 and 12 in India’s eighth-wicket defeat to New Zealand in Bengaluru. 

Morkel recalled that the Indian batters asked him to bowl to them when he joined the team as bowling coach.

“I need to remind myself that I’m 40 and not 23 anymore, and the last time I bowled was almost like a year ago. The boys asked me, sort of when I joined if I’m still fit enough to ball, and I said, don’t worry, you know, the day will come,” the 40-year-old said in a video posted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on social media. 

How Morkel bowled with extra pace

Morkel feared pulling a hamstring and injurying in the nets. He decided to bowl big no-balls to add extra pace to help Rahul prepare better.

“I had to really, when I walked back to my mark, do a lot of conversation, self-talk and do the same. Just calm down. The last thing you do is get injured. Pull a hamstring and embarrass yourself. So I allowed myself to the ball big no-balls, which gave me that little bit of extra zip. And then obviously injury prevention was the main key thing,” said the veteran pacer with 309 Test wickets.

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Morkel to bowl more during Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25

Morkel recalled bowling in India during his career. He also hinted that he may bowl more on Australian pitches to help batters prepare for Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 starting next month.

“I have bowled too many over in India. My knees actually reminded me that the surfaces here are hard and slow and low, so don’t be silly. So, definitely in England and in Australia, where there will be a little bit more assistance for me on the surface,” he said. 

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Whenever I can get an opportunity, I would like to bowl. Yeah. I felt good like I feel real good about this one,” he added.

Meanwhile, Rahul has been backed by head coach Gautam Gambhir. In the pre-match press conference, he pointed out that Rahul played a decent knock as per team’s requirement in Kanpur Test against Bangladesh earlier this month.