Morris seeks major role for Proteas

Reeling from the loss of star speedster Dale Steyn, South Africa will be buoyed by the desire of Chris Morris to step into the void ahead of the Proteas Champions League campaign.

South Africa face England in a three-match one-day series that also serves as both sides' preparation for the Champions Trophy and the Proteas will be keen to settle on a new-ball combination.

Steyn was last week ruled out of not just the ODI series and Champions Trophy tournament, but the T20 and Test series to follow as his recovery from the shoulder injury picked up in Australia last summer has proved protracted.

Quick Single: Steyn succumbs to shoulder, out of England

On the back of a solid season in the Indian Premier League, the big-hitting quick is desperate to usurp rivals and claim the new ball.

"I'd like to (take the new ball). I'll even bowl spin if they want me to," Morris told South Africa's Independent Media outlet.

"But hopefully I do get an opportunity show what I can do."

Morris showed just what he can do in a spine-tingling cameo with the bat for his Delhi Daredevils IPL franchise against Steve Smith's Rising Pune Supergiant side as he saved the bowling for 38 runs from just nine balls.

Morris was bought by Delhi for A$1.46m in the 2016 action, and finished the current campaign averaging 20 with the ball and 30 with the bat.

The lower-order power makes him an attractive prospect in limited-overs cricket, but it's with the ball where he hopes to do the most damage.

He played alongside fellow Proteas pace age Kagiso Rabada in Delhi and hopes the rekindle that with South Africa.

Also contending for seamers spots are the fit-again Morne Morkel who has triumphed over his back issues, and allrounder Wayne Parnell.

"Competition is healthy and we're all men and there's a lot of testosterone flying around but at the end of the day we just want to win games for the Proteas and win the tournament," Morris said.

"So, whoever plays, I'm sure he is giving his best out there and if I have to carry drinks I'll be the best drinks carrier there is."

The Champions Trophy tournament holds some sentimentality for Morris – he made his debut in this event four years ago.

And despite it being another major tournament where South Africa crashed out in the semi-final stage, cruched by hosts England, he holds fond memories.

"I obviously made my debut in 2013 at the Champions Trophy. I am very excited to go back," he said.

"It is a privilege to be at another ICC Champions Trophy for South Africa. It's going to be fun. I remember back then … Davey (Miller), myself and Dale were the single guys on that tour.

"We were actually talking about it just now, had a lot of fun, 'The Three Musketeers'.

"I really believe we have a good chance of winning it, so going to go out there and just give it our best shot."

Champions Trophy 2017 Guide

Squads: Every Champions Trophy squad named so far

Group A: Australia, New Zealand, England, Bangladesh.

Group B: India, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Pakistan.

Schedule

Warm-up matches

26 May – Australia v Sri Lanka, The Oval

27 May – Bangladesh v Pakistan, Edgbaston

28 May – India v New Zealand, The Oval

29 May – Australia v Pakistan, Edgbaston

30 May – New Zealand v Sri Lanka, Edgbaston

30 May – Bangladesh vs India, The Oval

Tournament

1 June – England v Bangladesh, The Oval (Day)

2 June – Australia v New Zealand, Edgbaston (D)

3 June – Sri Lanka v South Africa, The Oval (D)

4 June – India v Pakistan, Edgbaston (D)

5 June – Australia v Bangladesh, The Oval (D/N)

6 June – England v New Zealand, Cardiff (D)

7 June – Pakistan v South Africa, Edgbaston (D/N)

8 June – India v Sri Lanka, The Oval (D)

9 June – New Zealand v Bangladesh, Cardiff (D)

10 June – England v Australia, Edgbaston (D)

11 June – India v South Africa, The Oval (D)

12 June – Sri Lanka v Pakistan, Cardiff (D)

14 June – First semi-final (A1 v B2), Cardiff (D)

15 June – Second semi-final (A2 v B1), Edgbaston (D)

18 June – Final, The Oval (D)

19 June – Reserve day (D)