Proteas speedster Morne Morkel has said his 301 test wickets are a testament to the hard work he has put into something that many international bowlers take for granted. One of the tallest fast bowler in the world reached the milestone in the third test against Australia at Newlands on Friday with the wicket of Shaun Marsh on his way to 4-87 as the tourists were reduced to 245 for nine, a deficit of 66 with one wicket left at the close on the second day.

"I have worked really hard through the years, I wasn’t blessed with that natural talent to run up and hit a length, so over 12 years it was hard work to get to be able to do that," Morkel told reporters after Friday's close.

"It’s a special feeling, mostly because I am the world record holder for the most no balls! But to eventually reach it (300 wickets) is something I have worked for a long time to achieve and to do it at this amazing venue is even better."

Proteas veteran pacer Morkel said before the four-match series that he would be retiring from international cricket and after a difficult first test in Durban in which he returned match figures of 3-122, he was dropped for the second game in Port Elizabeth. He could have been stranded on 297 test scalps, but a toe injury to fellow seamer Lungi Ngidi saw him back in the side.