Philander says South Africa won’t ‘get in a Faf’ over absentees

LONDON: Vernon Philander believes South Africa have the resources to cope without two senior batsmen when the first Test against England starts at Lord’s on Thursday.

Proteas captain Faf du Plessis will miss the match as he spends time at home with his wife after the birth of the couple’s first child.

Meanwhile former skipper AB de Villiers, one of the world’s leading batsmen, has decided to opt out of the four-Test series completely as he considers his international future.

It now falls to opener Dean Elgar to skipper South Africa for the first time but Proteas paceman Philander was in upbeat mood as he contemplated another Test at Lord’s after his secondinnings five for 30 at the ‘home of cricket’ five years ago played a key role in a 51-run win that sealed a 2-0 series victory.

“We’ve lost players in the past, and guys have stepped up,” Philander told reporters at Lord’s on Tuesday.

“It’s an opportunity for someone else to step up and make a name for himself,” added the 32year-old, who has had stints with six English counties, including a spell this season with Sussex. “That’s the way we always see it.”

De Villiers has not played Test cricket since January last year and Philander said: “We’ve made adjustments in order to move on.

“I think that’s a personal decision. It’s entirely up to him what he wants to play.

“We’re a settled unit now. The boys have obviously done well over the last 12 months,” insisted Philander of a Proteas team that have risen to second in the world Test rankings.

“Our focus is not on one particular player. Our focus is on the team.”

As for Elgar, Philander said: “He’s got a job to do. I hope he’ll get a win under his belt.

“We’ll probably make his job as easy as possible.” - AFP