Is Vernon Philander the next big thing?

[morri]

He has been doing great so far. I hope he has the mental strenthgs to keep it up

 

[Bomber Bears]

The guy bowls an imaculate line and length. Perfect bowling for the conditions he's always played on in First-Class cricket and now Test cricket. And his two next series are in New Zealand and England, both of which generally provide helpful conditions for the seamers (except for places like Lord's or Naiper). As a NZ fan myself, I was already scared enough of Steyn and Tahir tearing our batting apart, and Philander looks like he can be just as good as Steyn.

McGrath did alright at Lords

Be interesting how he goes on the flat wickets of the sub continent, but seems like he'll kill it in the main seaming areas of South Africa, NZ and England.

 

[Hellgood]

Very good cricketer. Will enjoy following his career, which looks likely to be mostly played out in the test arena. Nothing fancy, just putting the ball in the right spots with a bit of swing.

 

[Chops_a_must]

Btw, the other day my mum who doesn't follow cricket (or any sport really) at all asked me if they (radio or something) were talking about Philander.

I was dumbfounded but it turns out she's friends with his Dad.

Was his dad a philanderer as well?

 

[BACCS]

And look at thier batting line up
Reindeer - Young guy, yet to show his ability
Smith - Good batsman
Amwaaa - Gun.
Kallis - Gun.
AB - Gun.
Prince - Very solid player.
Boucher - Great keeper, gritty batsman.

There is no doubt they should be the number 1 team in the world. By a fair margin too.

Mentally tough as tissue paper though.

Jacques Rudolph aint that young. He played out here in Australia a couple of tours ago with SA and went alright, then disappeared for about 5-6 years. He hasn't done that much since he got back in the team either. Prince is also very lucky to still be in that team, he is so bloody inconsistent. They aint number 1 for a reason.

 

[Nugget1985]

Lets see him outside of South Africa, bangs it on the spot at 135 and gets a bit of help from the wickets they play on. Will never rival Steyn as the premier bowler but if he can continue some sort of form I fancy Morkel at 145kmh bouncing them everywhere would be a terrific first change weapon for a captain.

A greater reflection of what he might offer is his form in the shorter formats where the pitches aren't that conducive to his style of bowling hence why he hasn't been as succesful.

As to why they hadn't picked him, like everyone else in test cricket the fascination is with left armers and both Parnell and Tsotsobe have been used before him.

As for Tahir I have doubts, a person who has played for so many first class teams raises serious doubts with me, i think it is pointed out in his profile but I believe it leads itself to an asuumption that he may struggle for consistency over a period of length. BUT his first class record is outstanding and he is a leg spinner...

 

[BarneyBent]

Edit: Didn't realise he'd played that much test cricket. Was being talked up debutant like during the Aus v SA series.

Not really. It was all "comeback" talk.

 

[Thommo 42]

Can't understand why he wasn't given games earlier. His first class record is sensational.

because he's a c#nt apparently.

Also, when Steyn came into the side, at the time it was a 50/50 call which of Philander or Styen would be elevated, Steyn won and the rest is history. (think Slater/Hayden 1993)

At that point, the other 2 fast bowling spots were accounted for. Then they wanted a left armer (what is it with selectors and lefties!?)

He is there for good now though, thats for sure.

 

[Hellgood]

Just on the lefties, Wayne Parnell has looked an excellent prospect in the one dayers I have seen him play in. His style of accurate yorkers is more suited to the shorter forms, but it would be interested to see how he goes in a test match. Very lively pace too.

Marchant de Lange (the guy who ran through the Aussies in the tour match) is also supposed to be a pretty good prospect too.

Some serious pace bowling talent/depth over there at the moment:
Steyn
Philander
Morkel
Parnell
Tsotsobe
de Lange

All should be around for a fair while yet and there is a lot of variation in that group. However South Africa has been infamous for not utilising the talent available for them, but it would be awesome to see a West Indies like dominating pace group running through teams consistantly.

 

[Sharks On A Plane]

Love watching this bloke bowl, is a seriously exciting talent.

Incredible first class figures that he has transferred to the test arena with devastating results. He bowls an excellent line and his length is pretty much perfect in encouraging the batsmen to come forward.

South African fans have so much to look forward to over the coming years with Philander and Steyn (who himself is just ridiculously good) taking the new ball.

 

[lewigie]

It's a shame South Africa are chokers.

We beat them in a test ffs.

 

[The Passenger]

At that point, the other 2 fast bowling spots were accounted for. Then they wanted a left armer (what is it with selectors and lefties!?)

i'm struggling to work out it as well. pick your three best quicks. end of story. this is people trying to over complicate a simple game (imo partly to justify their position as well).

this is their domestic season before Tsotsobe got pulled into the test team:

http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/RSA/SuperSport_Series_2009-10/Bowling_by_Wickets.html

Mind boggling really.

 

[Thommo 42]

If Philander was white, it would be easier to explain...

 

[CLUBMEDhurst]

I love the way he goes about it.

Settled into a pub on Sunday to watch the Saffers and Sri Lanka, with the expectation of watching Steyn bowling to Sangakkara and Jayawardene. Was disappointed that they both went cheaply, however Vernon ripped the guts outta them.

Knocked back quite a few sherbets and was roaring, "VEEEEERNOOON!" each time he beat the bat (many) or took a wicket.

He's definitely a stayer.

 

[Hoffy95]

If Philander was white, it would be easier to explain...

Pretty much all it boils down to.

Surprised more people haven't mentioned it.

Just the way it is.

 

[Gazza_11]

It'll be interesting to see how he goes when South Africa tour here next summer. Could be unplayable in Perth, and maybe Sydney.

 

[The Passenger]

Pretty much all it boils down to.

Surprised more people haven't mentioned it.

Just the way it is.

nah because it was tsostobe keeping him out of the team.

tsostobe seemed to be there as a bloke making up the quota numbers (possibly. they may have passed them without him).... but why pick when there was a much better option who was also black.

 

[Hoffy95]

Probably not black enough to please the masses.

 

[Thommo 42]

Pretty much all it boils down to.

Surprised more people haven't mentioned it.

Just the way it is.

I think you missed my point.

If he were white, it would be easy to explain why he was overlooked - as they have long had the unofficial quota system. However, given he is black it makes it all the more difficult to understand why he wasn't in the team, given he would fill the quota AND be there on merit.

 

[stevemac]

45 wickets in 6 matches @ 13.6. 5 five-fors and a ten-for. If he gets 5 wickets in the next match, it would be the equal-second fastest to 50 wickets in tests. What a gun.

 

[The Passenger]

i'm staggered that it took so long for him to get a run in test cricket. can't believe tsotobe was picked in front of him.

 

[glenferry23]

45 wickets in 6 matches @ 13.6. 5 five-fors and a ten-for. If he gets 5 wickets in the next match, it would be the equal-second fastest to 50 wickets in tests. What a gun.

fantastic numbers, unbelievable start to his test career. really looking forward to seeing him bowl here next summer

 

[Bucking Beads]

Very very good bowler. He has had the best conditions for his bowling to start his career. He is consistently out bowling Steyn. I look forward to seeing how he goes in India

 

[Thommo 42]

if you've been watching, he's not actually outbowling Steyn. Steyn is setting them up beautifully and Philander is knocking them over

 

[Bucking Beads]

Clearly out bowling Steyn. Has Steyn taken as many wickets as Philander of late??