The Super 8 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will not only witness two unbeaten sides collide, but it will also stage a rare off-field sibling rivalry.
Albie and Morne Morkel, once teammates for South Africa, now find themselves plotting against each other from rival dugouts. While Albie is serving as South Africa’s specialist consultant for the tournament, Morne is part of India’s support staff under head coach Gautam Gambhir, working as the bowling coach.
It is an unusual scenario in international cricket. Brothers have often shared dressing rooms and combined on the field. Far fewer have strategised against each other at a World Cup.
The subplot, however, extends beyond tactics and team meetings. Back home, their mother faces a dilemma that neither scoreboard nor strategy can resolve.
“No, we don’t talk to each other. I think my mother, she’s more worried than us. She doesn’t know who to support, India or South Africa,” Albie had said recently in jest.
India and South Africa both progressed to the Super 8 unbeaten, heightening the stakes of their opening encounter in the next phase. Morne admitted that interactions between the brothers have been minimal during the tournament.
“I saw him arrive at the ground. But we haven’t been talking a lot. Good to see him though,” he said when asked about Albie.
DRESSING ROOMS TO OPPOSING PLANS
International cricket is replete with heartwarming stories of brothers combining forces on the field to become part of the game’s legend.
Whether it is the Chappells, Ian and Greg, the Waughs, Steve and Mark, the Amarnaths, Mohinder, Surinder and Rajinder, the Pathans, Irfan and Yusuf, the Pandyas, Hardik and Krunal, the Mohammeds, Hanif, Sadiq, Mushtaq and Wazir, or the Hadlees, Richard and Dale, sibling combinations have enriched the sport’s narrative and added to its enduring charm.
There are exceptions too. Sam Curran represents England while his brother Ben, a replacement player, turns out for their native Zimbabwe, like their late father Kevin once did.
Yet what the Morkels bring is a different layer altogether. They are not walking out together, nor are they competing as players. They are engaged in a tactical duel from the dugout, shaping plans and reading matchups from opposite camps.
In terms of cricketing pedigree, Morne arguably had the broader canvas. The tall fast bowler featured in 86 Tests and picked up 309 wickets across formats, building a substantial body of work. Albie, in contrast, became more of a white-ball regular for the Proteas, playing 108 limited-overs internationals.
One of the lesser discussed facets of Albie’s career was his role during his early years with Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. In the franchise’s first five seasons, he emerged as Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s trusted lower-order hitter and death bowling option, often turning games with late cameos and crucial overs.
DECODING THE SPECIALIST CONSULTANT ROLE
When asked to define what being a specialist consultant entails, Albie admitted that even he had to decipher the role.
“…it’s been an interesting term, a specialist consultant. I had to figure it out myself a little bit,” he quipped before elaborating on the responsibilities.
“I guess it’s anything it takes to help the team do well in the World Cup. So do a bit of both, batting, and fielding, mostly focus around the bowling for now.
“And yeah, do some work with the lower order batters, swing work, and stuff like that,” he had told reporters in New Delhi ahead of the UAE match when asked to define his position.
For the Morkels, the responsibility is clear. They must serve as sounding boards for their respective head coaches, Shukri Conrad for South Africa and Gautam Gambhir for India, fine-tuning match-ups and preparing contingencies in what promises to be a high intensity Super 8 encounter.
Albie believes his years under Stephen Fleming at Chennai Super Kings have shaped his understanding of leadership and longevity in coaching.
“Stephen has been a big influence on me. I think he’s one of the only coaches, or maybe the only coach in the world who’s been at a franchise (CSK) for 17 years. That’s unheard of.
“So, it must mean he does something right. And I certainly learn a lot from him, yes,” said Albie, who has also worked with him at Johannesburg Super Kings in SA20.
On Sunday, when India and South Africa walk out for their Super 8 opener, the bond of brotherhood will briefly yield to professional instinct.
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