Morkel Says South Africa 'Ready' To Lift Their Game

Morkel Says South Africa 'Ready' To Lift Their Game

Morne Morkel was South Africa's most successful bowler in Brisbane but knows his team must make further improvements in Adelaide

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Adaptability has quickly become a watchword for South Africa since arriving in Australia. Whether it be from Sydney to Brisbane, or as now, from Brisbane to Adelaide, they are being faced with different challenges at each venue.

So far, they have done a reasonable job, holding off Australia to draw in Brisbane and keep a firm hold of the number one Test ranking that they are defending, but fast bowler Morne Morkel knows that more improvement is still needed.

Latest 2nd Test odds from bet365: The draw 6/4, Australia 2/1, South Africa 21/10

Not least in one very specific area after two wickets were taken only to be ruled out due to front-foot no balls in Brisbane.

"It’s a bitter pill to swallow," he said. "Especially because we know the quality of the batsmen at this level, you don’t want to give them that extra chance. I think it is a matter of getting over it and trying to get on with the job. As a fast bowler I back myself, if I can get him out once I can get him out again."

Morkel had no complaints about the Brisbane wicket, which the Australians claimed was slower and softer than usual.

"The wicket at the Gabba was a good cricket wicket, you needed to work hard to get the results. As a fast bowler you understand it and that is the sort of thing you prepare yourself for mentally.

"I played a one-day game on our last tour, it’s my first Test match here (at Adelaide) and there is a lot of talk about the ground and the wicket.

"For me, it's important to listen to those things and to try and learn from them but also to experience those things for myself. As soon as you get caught up in different stories, you could go down the wrong avenue."

Morkel was South Africa's most successful bowler in Brisbane with three wickets but he knows the team need to improve if they are to maintain their position as the best Test team in the world.

"We know what to do to lift our game," he said. "Over the next three days our intensity at training is going to be of a high quality. This is a very important tour for us and we are looking forward to the challenge. The number one spot is crucial, so we are not going to let it go that easily."

© Cricket World 2012