Chris Morris showed a glimpse of uncertainty regarding his spot in the 2019 World Cup squad.
The Proteas all-rounder, who has scored 393 runs and taken 35 wickets in 34 ODIs, was cautious enough to say that he is not guaranteed a place in the big event.
‘The Proteas side is a tough side to get into,’ he said. ‘If I go to the World Cup, I will perform to the best of my abilities, to contribute to a winning cause and be part of the team to make history.’
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The Proteas have yet to win a World Cup. They came close in 1992, 1999, 2007 and 2015 by reaching the semi-finals. They also reached the quarter-finals on two occasions – 1996 and 2011 – and suffered their worst campaign in 2003 when they were knocked out before the Super Six stage in South Africa.
Morris emphasised the importance of the global event.
‘The World Cup is a massive thing to every sportsman, not just to a cricket player. It is the pinnacle of a sportsman’s career,’ said Morris.
‘To be able to give yourself an opportunity to win a World Cup for your country is an amazing journey to be a part of. It is not just a six-month journey, but a four-year journey building up to the tournament.
‘As a South African, you have the opportunity to create history as a cricketer and do something that no other cricketer has done.’
Morris believes that winning a tournament is dependent on teams peaking at the right time and staying calm in difficult situations.
‘It is probably the most open World Cup, it depends what teams are peaking at the right time, but there is always an upset at a World Cup and you will always remember them,’ said Morris. ‘It’s about who can stay calm and perform best on the day.
‘One individual can take a game of cricket away. It will be very interesting to play against teams that some guys have not played against and new players that have not been seen on the big stage. It is exciting for all those involved.’
ALSO READ: 2019 World Cup fixtures
South Africa’s schedule of World Cup matches:
30 May – v England, The Oval (d)
2 June – v Bangladesh, The Oval (d)
5 June – v India, Hampshire Bowl (d)
10 June – v Windies, Hampshire Bowl (d)
15 June – v Afghanistan, Cardiff Wales Stadium (d/n)
19 June – v New Zealand, Edgbaston (d)
23 June – v Pakistan, Lord’s (d)
28 June – v Sri Lanka, The Riverside (d)
6 July – v Australia, Old Trafford (d/n)
Photo: Chris Ricco/BackpagePix
