Green diet - Morne Morkel's fitness mantra

Morne Morkel (L) of South Africa appeals for a LBW call on New Zealand's Kane Williamson (R) during the Cricket World Cup one-day warm up match between New Zealand and South Africa at Hagley Park Oval in Christchurch on February 11, 2015.

Morne Morkel, who has bowled the most number of overs for South Africa in the longer format in 2014, credits his new-found fitness and speed to his healthy green diet. Morkel was noted to have been faster than his fellow teammate Dale Steyn on the speed gun and also has been able to longer spells.

'It comes down to the way I train and my lifestyle off the field. Clean living. Green smoothies,” said Morkel on his new diet plan.

"Roz is really into her health stuff and it's helped me a lot. She's guided me with the whole healthy lifestyle," said Morkel crediting his wife Roz Kelly for guiding him in the right way.

‘Feel very confident with my game at the moment’

He opened up more about his diet and said, “It comes down to the way I train and my lifestyle off the field. Clean living. Green smoothies. I've just cut out my sugar intake. I am very conscious about my sugar intake and the stuff I put into my body. I've cut out fizzy drinks. I drink water and I'll mix a lot of green smoothies."

The diet-style has helped Morkel to train harder and remove the lurking question marks over his consistency. The 30-year old said, "I've enough time to work on death bowling, to work on slower [balls] and to practice my skills.

“I've found a rhythm and built on it and that gives me a lot of confidence. In any sport, when you have confidence, you walk around with a bit more mongrel inside you. I feel very confident with my game at the moment, and the way the ball is coming out."

‘Ultimate aim is to win World Cup’

Going in to the World Cup, Morkel wants to keep it simple, instead of overcomplicating things. He said, ”I've got a good set of drills and a structure to my training. It's not just about bowling now, it's about trusting that plan and not over-thinking. Once we get to the World Cup it will be about finding my feet."

On how he felt being part of the team that is listed as one of the favourites to win the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, he said, "I've been part of this team getting Test awards and winning in that format; beating Australia in Australia; beating England in England.

“Speaking to Jacques [Kallis] and those guys before that, this is the ultimate dream for them as well and to win that trophy for them and the guys before us and the whole country, that will be the ultimate. It will be the ultimate for me, it will be the ultimate for everyone."