Picking up 300 scalps in a single format of the game is a feat that deserves to be lauded. In the case of Morne Morkel, he was always surrounded by great pacers and even then, among the best of the very best, he stood out with his hard-working brilliance.

After picking up four wickets against the Aussies, he now has 301 wickets to his name in the longest format of the game. Morkel admits that his diligence in the nets is what got him to where he is right now.

Indeed, like vaguely implied earlier, he wasn’t among the most talented players in the South African ranks, but his grit allowed him to be on the pedestal of Proteas’ dreams.

“I have worked really hard through the years, I wasn’t blessed with that natural talent to run up and hit a length, so over 12 years it was hard work to get to be able to do that,” said Morkel.

Morkel, who will be retiring from international cricket after the conclusion of the series, stated that it was a wonderful feeling especially because he is infamous for holding the world record for the most wickets being overturned due to no-balls.

“It’s a special feeling, mostly because I am the world record holder for the most no balls! But to eventually reach it (300 wickets) is something I have worked for a long time to achieve and to do it at this amazing venue is even better.”

At one point, when Lungi Ngidi was picked up ahead of him in the second Test, it looked like he would be trapped at 297, but an injury to the talented youngster brought him back in the reckoning.

“In PE (Port Elizabeth) I sat down for hours looking at my Durban spells and what I had to work on. Luckily for me, I got an opportunity with Lungi getting a niggle.”