Morne Morkel bowed out of international cricket in style as South Africa registered a historic 3-1 series victory against Australia by winning the fourth and final Test b𓄧y a mammoth 492 runs, their highest victory run margin in history.
The 33-year-o♏ld was in the thick of the action as he bowled what would become the final delivery of the series, where Aiden Markram effected the run out which would bring the contest, as well as a 12-year Test career, to a close.
Twitter was filled with tributes for the South African legend, including prominent names from the cricketing fraternity. The heartwarming messages were led by his brother Albie Morkel, who congratulated his younger brother for his “success story”.
Here are some of the best tweets:
Well done brother . End o𒁃f a real success story. In the end family wins.. Enjoy life!
— Albie Morkel (@albiemorkel)
Congratulations on an amazing international career! One of the all time great men of cric👍ket and someone who has never sought the limelight🌟 but deserves it all! Enjoy having him home a bit more often
— Aaron Finch (@AaronFinch5)
Congrats on a wonde🅰rful career . Fine, fine cricketer but even better bloke. Surely the mark of a mans achievements. Enjoy the next chapter mꦚate.
— Brendon McCullum (@Bazmccullum)
Big congratulations to on a fantastic test career. A true gentleman of the game!! There will be a lot of happy international batsmeಌn around the world knowing they don’t have to face him any longer!!! Best wishes for the future
— Mike Hussey (@mhussey393)
Well done Proteas. Great series win again🐻st Aus. Congrats on a fantastic career.
— Jacques Kallis (@jacqueskallis75)
Congratulation🌱s to on a won🐈derful career and to for their series victory
— Darren Lehmann (@darren_lehmann)
History was made…congrats to everyone involved but special mention to the man holding the trophy .we gonna miss u tall man ❤️ 3-1🇿🇦🔥
— Faf Du Plessis (@faf1307)
Wis😼hing a very fulfilling and happy life post his retirement from international Cricket. 🌱Went about quietly doing his job , but was a great competitor and always gave his best. Congratulations on a wonderful career.
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281)
A series with many descriptions; bizarre, emotional, heated, competitive… you name it!Unforgettable to say the least. I thought the cricket that was played was remarkable, and that should take center stage. What a send off for GO FORTH!😌🏅🏆
— Kagiso Rabada (@KagisoRabada25)
Foug🌠ht really really hard in his career, great competitor and the nicest human being. Wish you a happy retirement
— Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45)
It has been a fairytale finish for .. what a player, friend, ambassador, role model and you can be so proud of yourself for an outstanding career.!🍨 Privileged to have played a෴longside you.
— David Miller (@DavidMillerSA12)
A perfect send-off for a man who deserved every bit of it. Congratul൩ations, , o🐽n a career greater in height than you. Wishing you tons of luck for your second innings. 👌✌️
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina)
//twitter.com/MitchJohns💃on398/status/ဣ981351904989999105
One of the great guys leaves Test Cricket Today … … Well done and good luck with wherever you end up playing …
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan)
Test cricket is alive and kicking. Congrats on a great series win. Fitting send off to a true champion clinical as always by cꦺongrats on the brother. Awesome work and co.
— JP Duminy (@jpduminy21)
The smiles and joy.. reward for a hard fought series win
The legend of SA cricket with the trophy bro— hashim amla (@amlahash)
Enjoy hanging those size 14 bo💟ots up ! You have 🧜shown great character and humility while achieving so much. A true champion.🍾
— Grant Elliott (@grantelliottnz)
When cricket has been your life, it isn't easy to say good-bye. Wish the very best.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha)
So,492 runs is the margin of def🥃eat for Australia. Before that Saturday evening, it looked such a close series,but Austra𝄹lia found it impossible to maintain the intensity post the ball tampering saga. Congratulations to Morne Morkel on a great career, giant ,unsung hero.
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif)
Congrats on a fantastic career.all the best for your future endeavou𓆉rs
— Angelo Mathews (@Angelo69Mathews)
Congratulations on a brilliant career buddy 👍🏻
— @BrettLee_58 (@BrettLee_58)
Well done on ur wonderful international cricket career mate wish u all the luck for life๊ ahead
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan)
//twitter.com/All🎀anDonald33/status/981125825390137345
Congrats to on a fine inter♏national career! Don’t like to heap too much praise on the opposition 😝😉, but now he’s retired can say he’s a top bloke off the field too 🙌🏼 Fully d⛦eserves all the plaudits!
— Ian Bell MBE (@Ian_Bell)
Congratulations on an amaz♔ing internation🀅al career!
— Naman Ojha (@namanojha35)
So🐓 long , and thanks for the memorie🤡s. You did yourself, team, country and the game of cricket proud
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah)
Massive Con💃gratulations to on a Great career! Been a true inspi🤡ration.🥇& welldone to the whole Proteas Squad on some unbelievable performances and a great series win!🏆🥇🇿🇦
— Sibonelo Makhanya (@Sibzmakhanya)
