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Morne Morkel declared the South African team is standing by besieged spinner Imran Tahir.
The press at home in South Africa savaged the Pakistan-born leg-spinner, insisting Tahir should never play Test cricket again after his first-innings disaster in the second Test against Australia in Adelaide.
Tahir finished with figures of 0-180 from 23 overs – going at nearly eight runs an over.
To put his figures in perspective, Australian spinner Nathan Lyon was 0-53 from 24 overs at stumps on day two, with South Africa trailing by 333 with eight wickets in hand.
The Proteas were 2-217 in reply to Australia’s first-innings total of 550.
Pace bowler Morkel, who fought hard for his 5-146, said the Proteas players had full confidence in Tahir to bounce back.
“I feel so sorry for Imran because he has worked so hard and I think really his big haul is around the corner,” said Morkel.
“Luckily, in cricket as we all know – I have been in the boat so many times – there is a second innings as well and the wicket is turning quite nicely. There is a bit of grip now so I really back Imran to pull out a special performance.
“He’s a confident guy, the whole team is behind him and we know he’s going to deliver something special.”
If Tahir is a confidence player, then he must be at rock bottom.
His performance in Adelaide is in the top-10 worst bowling performances ever in an innings.
Conditions weren’t easy but even part-time leggie David Warner came on and took a wicket for Australia.
The 33-year-old Tahir is highly unlikely to be considered for Perth – both because of conditions and his performance.
This is Tahir’s 11th Test and he averages a mammoth 47.11.
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