The 34-year-old South-African all-rounder Chris Morris announced retirement from all forms of cricket and is set to take up a coaching role with domestic side Titans.
Chris Morris has proved to be a valuable asset for the international team as well as the various T20 franchises for which he has played all across the world.
He tweeted on social media saying, "Today I announce my retirement from all forms of cricket! Thanks to all who have played a part in my journey, whether it be big or small?it’s been a fun ride! Delighted to be taking up a coaching role at @titanscricket #lifebeginsnow,”.
In 69 appearances for his international team, across the three formats, Morris took 94 wickets. A gifted hitter in the lower-order, he couldn't quite translate his talent into big contributions with the bat, aggregating a total of 774 international runs.
Morris was very late to take up his cricketing career, making his First-Class debut for North West at the age of 22 in 2009. By the end of 2012, he managed to prove himself as their leading bowler. With the ball in hand, he was the highest wicket-taker in the domestic T20 competition with 21 wickets. With consistent performance, he made it to the T20I squad which was touring Zimbabwe. Though he couldn't officially play in that tour, he gained useful knowledge from Allan Donald, who was one of the greatest bowling legends of all time. With his gained experience, he performed brilliantly in the 2012 Champions League, where his franchise - Lions - reached the final. The impact he had on the tournament earned him a place in the international side for the T20I series against New Zealand in December 2012. After a few months, he was picked up in the Champions Trophy squad and made his ODI debut against Pakistan at Birmingham.
At the time of the 2013 IPL auctions, Morris was bagged by the IPL giants, Chennai Super Kings for a whopping sum of US$650,000. He was astonished to see the demand he had & commented that he had never seen so much money. Morris was very instrumental in getting Chennai to the finals of that IPL edition.
The IPL remained kind to him, and in 2016, he was signed up for a whopping US$1 million by Delhi Daredevils. Having bought for a huge sum by the Delhi Capitals, he did justice to that price tag, finishing as their leading wicket-taker that season. Just before this tournament, Morris had made his Test debut for South Africa in the New Year's Test against England. In the following one-day series, the South African team was suffering a huge blow with 1-2 down in the series and was on the brink of losing the fourth ODI as well. Then came Morris, who turned the match around from out of nowhere with a blistering knock of 62 from just 38 balls and stunned the England team. The hosts eventually went on to win the five-match ODI series.
In his short career span, Chris Morris has established himself as one of the leading all-rounders globally, in spite of very few opportunities given to expose his bowling & batting abilities.
Given the case of being an all-rounder, It would be great to see him in a coaching role shaping up the teams in future T20 tournaments.
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