To look at him this week, it’ hard to imagine Albie Morkel being anything else but the Titans captain.
However, he only started doing the job in the limited-overs formats this season and has taken to it with aplomb. Morkel has led the Titans in a highly successful campaign that saw them win eight out of 10 league matches in the RamSlam T20 Challenge and comfortably top the table. Just one more hurdle remains.
The Titans meet the Dolphins in a dream final in Centurion tomorrow after the Durban-based side survived an epic encounter at Kingsmead against the Cape Cobras.
Morkel, despite his many years of top level play representing his country and playing in IPL finals, is still excited by the prospect of a home final.
“Finals, especially home finals don’t come around that often.
“You want the younger guys to experience what it is to play in a game like that - in front of big crowds. We want to win, but the experience the guys will pick up tomorrow is something they will remember for the rest of their lives.
“There is no better place than to sit in the change-room after a successful campaign and also a trophy to go with it,” said Morkel.
While it made sense it still came as a surprise when Morkel was appointed captain for the 50-over and T20 competitions. His only captaincy experience was leading Hoerskool Vereeniging’s first team way back when. “Everyday has been a learning experience,” remarked Morel.
“The biggest thing for me was at the start I was hesitant to make controversial calls on the field. For instance, do I bowl a spinner in the first three overs. Now I trust my gut-feel. I’ve spoken to guys who have captained previously, and they all hammer on that to have a gut-feel and then to trust it. The times I’ve backed it, it’s worked out.”
Morkel has plenty of options at his disposal when it comes to the Titans’ bowling. He admits it’s too many, but would rather have that than be a bowler light. “I’ve seen some teams pick just five bowlers and in my mind, you can’t do that, because on the day one guy goes for runs and you need another option. We’ve got eight options, which is maybe one too many, which is why sometimes guys like me or Dave (Wiese) don’t bowl our four overs. There are lots of options and as captain the key is for me to juggle that and play the situation I see in front of me and not get emotional about guys not bowling their overs.”
There is left-arm wrist spin from Tabraiz Shamsi, Pace from Chris Morris and Junior Dala, more spin from Graeme van Buuren and Henry Davids and of course Morkel and Wiese’s own mix of slower balls and cutters.
Utilising that variety the Titans have managed to win matches in contrasting ways throughout their campaign, something that has further pleased Morkel.
“There have been times previously where when it got tough, the Titans would just let the game go it’s own way, but this season we’ve defended low scores - against the Dolphins and the Knights - chased high targets and set high totals, we’ve done it all.”
A key part of their arsenal has been the devastation wrought by the opening duo Quinton de Kock and Henry Davids. The pair has twice shared century partnerships and on two other occasions stands that topped 70. De Kock after a spell in which his confidence waned, is the competition’s leading run-scorer with 425 runs while Davids is 10th highest with an aggregate of 241.
“If you want to be a good T20 side then having a good opening combination is vital as it allows your bigger hitters to come in with a platform laid, that’ why we’ve been successful. In six of the eight games, we won Henry and Quinny gave us good starts.”
The Titans were beaten by the Dolphins in the first match of the competition, so are wary of the challenge they face. With the likes of Pietersen, Dave Miller and Dwayne Bravo, in their ranks, they have the ability to spoil the part in Centurion tomorrow. “You just need one guy to come off for you on the day,” mused Morkel.
The match starts at 6pm.
Previous Champions
of the Franchise T20
competition
2003/04 - Eagles (now Knights)
2004/05 - Titans
2005/06 - Eagles (now Knights)
2006/07 - Highveld Lions
2007/08 - Titans
2008/09 - Cape Cobras
2009/10 - Warriors
2010/11 - Cape Cobras
2011/12 - Titans
2012/13 - Highveld Lions
2013/14 - Dolphins
2014/15 - Cape Cobras - The Star