It's down to pride vs focus: Morkel

MORNE Morkel doesn't mind playing second fiddle in the South African bowling attack.

The tall, gangly fast bowler was once used as a new-ball man, but that changed last November when Vernon Philander made his debut. Morkel then took over the role of the follow-up quick.

And now that he's developed the knack of reverse swing, it makes the Proteas pace attack an awesome one.

Morkel said he was quite happy being the first-change bowler behind Dale Steyn and Philander.

"I am playing well at the moment. I am happy with my form and yes, I would like to get more wickets. Even so I am a team player. It's not about individuals. It is about the team.

"We are focused on processes. The skill level of the Steyn-Philander combination with the new ball is frightening and it is great being part of this bowling line-up."

Morkel summed up the final test of the series, which starts here at the Cake Tin tomorrow, as a battle between pride and focus. With the Proteas leading the series 1-0, Morkel said the Black Caps were expected to come hard at them.

"They want to restore their pride and we want to return to South Africa with a 2-0 victory," Morkel said. "We have the focus and the game plan. All we need to do is to execute."

Although South Africa clobbered New Zealand within three days in the second test, Morkel said statistically the tests were much closer than the scorecards reflect.

There is now also no doubt how highly the Kiwis regard the South Africans. England may hold the No1 spot in test cricket, but the Black Caps' Kane Williamson believes the Proteas are the real deal. The 21-year-old Williamson, who frustrated the Proteas attack for almost five hours scoring 77 in the second test at Hamilton last week, believes the Proteas are the best in the world. "They are just awesome all round," he said.