Proteas hold out for Vern’s recovery
WELLINGTON: Vernon Philander will be given until the week of South Africa’s quarterfinal to prove he is fit enough to continue at the World Cup.
Philander was due to start against Pakistan, but complained of tightness in his hamstring and underwent a fitness test before the team’s warm-up on Saturday.
While A B de Villiers denied the bowler had a fitness test – perhaps he didn’t see the events unfold involving Philander, bowling coach Allan Donald and physiotherapist Brendan Jackson before the match against Pakistan – an opportunity had been granted to the all-rounder to prove his readiness for the match.
Philander bowled about 10 deliveries off about two thirds of his full run and was in constant communication with Jackson, until the trio went to inform Russell Domingo that Philander wouldn’t be fit to play.
Kyle Abbott was quickly told he’d be playing and went on to take two wickets, adding to the six he picked up in his two previous matches, though he would admit he didn’t bowl with the same accuracy he displayed against Ireland and the West Indies.
“It was a curve ball just before the game,” De Villiers admitted. “It would be nice to have Vern, batting at 8, even though Abbo was one of the better batters (on Saturday).
“Vern is a good all-rounder and hopefully he’ll be ready for the next game. There is nothing else I can say, other than he’s just not fit at the moment.”
Philander, meanwhile, faces another critical few days.
At some stage the management and the selectors have to make a decision about whether he can play at all or whether he should be flown home and a replacement called up to the squad.
They will want to give Philander as long as possible to prove his fitness.
Hamstring injuries are notoriously fickle, and as Michael Clarke has shown in the last year, if not properly monitored and assessed, can flare up at any stage.
As De Villiers stated, even with South Africa carrying seven frontline batsmen, like they did against Pakistan at Eden Park, they want the security of Philander at No 8.
Dale Steyn, while capable with the bat, was batting one spot too high on Saturday.
South Africa can’t afford to take three seamers into a game and have one of them break down. That only places more pressure on the fifth bowler’s ration, and that is something they can do without at this stage.
GUIDE TO F1 2015
THE Mercury’s guide to the 2015 Formula 1 Grand Prix season appears on Friday, just ahead of the opening race in Australia at the weekend.
Don’t miss the compact F1 booklet – only in your Mercury on Friday.