At stumps on Day 4 at Edgbaston, England were 72 for 3, still needing 536 runs with seven wickets remaining after being set 608.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cSiraj is a guy that I\u2019ve got a lot of respect for,\u201d Morkel said at the end of play. \u201cHe\u2019s a guy that always will push his body to the limits. I think sometimes the guilty part of him is trying too hard. So for us, it\u2019s about managing that sort of aggression and managing that intensity because he really bowls with his heart on his sleeve.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI think sometimes those sort of things can give you that inconsistency. In a match that he\u2019s now the leader of the attack, he got the wickets, but for me, in terms of effort and energy and with a sore body, he\u2019s always done and will put his hand up, and he wants to bowl that over. I don\u2019t think sometimes we give him enough credit for that.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Siraj\u2019s five-wicket haul on one of England\u2019s flattest pitches of the century was a fitting reward after a long wait. \u201cVery, very happy so far,\u201d Morkel said. \u201cWe had a deep or good discussion after the last Test in terms of areas we want to improve on, and I think we\u2019ve done that. So that\u2019s a pleasing sign from a growing bowling attack, missing one of their most experienced players so they can react to those sort of things.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
On Akash Deep, Morkel said: \u201cHe is an attacking bowler that asks questions, bowling at the stumps a lot. I think that\u2019s one of the golden rules here in England: asking questions on the stumps. So for these sort of conditions in the UK, it suits his style.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThat was a dream delivery... top quality player Joe Root and to dismiss him in that fashion just shows the quality of Akash, what he can do. I think he is also a guy like all of us. The more confidence you give him, almost like there\u2019s a little bit more energy behind the ball and hopefully that delivery he will play over in his phone tonight, and then bring a couple more of those tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Morkel acknowledged the challenge ahead on a flat pitch. \u201cYour skill really gets tested on a surface like that. The margin for error is a lot smaller... but it\u2019s going to be a challenge for us tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
On tactics, he added: \u201cFor me personally on this sort of surface, you want to set a field where you can still have both options: using the short ball and try and nick a guy off. I think at times when you get too predictable, it can be a little bit easier to score because the surface is slow.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Morkel acknowledged the challenge ahead on a flat pitch. \u201cYour skill really gets tested on a surface like that. The margin for error is a lot smaller... but it\u2019s going to be a challenge for us tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Looking ahead to the final day, Morkel said: \u201cTomorrow for us it\u2019s just going to be asking those questions on a good length because we know as the ball gets a little bit softer it is harder to strike.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n