Big Bash: Sydney Thunder’s Chris Morris on tough 2019, World Cup and IPL deal
If things had gone the way South African all-rounder Chris Morris had wanted, he would not have been playing for the Thunder. But a series of unexpected events dramatically changed his plans, and he’s glad they did.
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Chris Morris never have imagined how the most tumultuous year of his professional cricket could end on such a high.
Dropped by South Africa just before the World Cup then released from his lucrative Indian Premier League contract with the Delhi Capitals, the veteran all rounder had every reason to be cursing his misfortune when he found himself bowling the last over of the decade.
It wasn’t just any over. More than 40,000 South Australians at Adelaide Oval were willing him to fail but his new Sydney Thunder teammates had his back.
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And he had theirs, producing the goods when they were needed to secure a famous win for his team in a pressure-cooker situation he had never planned to be in.
“That was a spectacular way to end the year but it was pretty nerve wracking,” he told The Daily Telegraph.
“I always like to bowl at the death so that’s exactly the situation I dream about, but it’s still like being a duck, looking very calm on top of the water but kicking as hard as you can underneath.”
If things had gone the way Morris had wanted, he would not have been playing for the Thunder, but a series of unexpected events dramatically changed his plans.
He decided to change his approach to cricket after his confidence was shaken when he was left out of South Africa’s World Cup squad then lost his IPL contract.
Vowing to start enjoying the game more and not take himself so seriously, the rewards came back in unexpected ways.
The 32-year-old was given a late call up to the World Cup squad and went on to become his country’s leading wicket taker at the tournament then was bought by the Royal Challengers Bangalore for an eye-watering $2 million.
“It’s been a bit of a roller coaster year and to be honest, I was in a bit of a dark space before the World Cup because it was quite upsetting to think that my international career was over because I thought I had more to give you and you want to go out on your own terms,” he said.
“Sometimes it takes a knock like that to make you appreciate what you have so ever since then I’ve gone out to enjoy myself and I think that shows in my cricket now.
“The BBL is a part of that. It’s always been on my bucket list but I’ve never had the chance to play for before so I’m loving every minute of it, although the stress levels have been pretty high so far.”
That could be one of the understatements of the new year. Morris has only played three BBL games so far but they’ve all been high on drama: the match in Canberra that was abandoned because of bushfire smoke, last week’s Sydney Smash that was decided by a Super Over, then the New Year’s Eve thriller.
His next match – against the Melbourne Stars at the Sydney Showground Stadium on Thursday night – promises more of the same, as well as a chance for him to go up against his great mate Dale Steyn.
“Apart from being a legend of the game, he’s a legend off a human being so we’re definitely going to catch up, either before or after the game,” Morris said.
“It’s quite cool to be playing against each other in a different tournament in a different country so that will make it even more special and I’d like to see Dale do well but just as long as we win the game.”
Originally published as Big Bash: Sydney Thunder’s Chris Morris on tough 2019, World Cup and IPL deal