Vernon Philander injures his left hamstring ahead of the first Test – Cricket News Update
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 at Cape Town, after the medium-fast bowler injured his left-hamstring during a first-class fixture between
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Cape-Cobras-c776 and Nashua Titans at the Newlands.
The 27-year-old cricketer has been advised a two-week rest by the doctors. With the first Test scheduled to begin from January 2, Philander is likely to miss the fixture and will most probably be replaced by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RK-Kleinveldt-c2334, the right-arm
seamer, who made his Test debut in the recently-concluded tour of Australia.
“MRI scans revealed that Vernon suffered a Grade 1 strain to his left hamstring. Injuries of this type usually have a 10 to 14 day recovery period,” said Mohammed Moosajee, the South African team manager.
Moosajee further added that the cricketer from Bellville will not bowl again in the on-going match between Cobras and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Titans-c856. However, the manager is not ready rule out Philander from the first Test as yet.
He expressed, “We will assess the injury as the week progresses, and this will help determine whether his availability for the Test series will be affected. At this point he will not bowl again during the match and will only bat if
necessary.”
Since making his Test debut last year against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 at home, Philander has been a superb performer for the Proteas, picking up 67 wickets in merely 12 matches at a stunning average of 17.98 runs per scalp. The seamer was named as
South Africa’s Sportsman of the Year in 2012.
Philander made his limited-over debut in 2007 but failed to cement his place in the South African side in the shorter formats of the game; however, the swing bowler has immensely helped http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 become the number one ranked Test
team of the world.
The hosts are going to start the series as firm favourites, even if Philander is not able to take part in the opening match, with the Proteas having the services of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/M-Morkel-c73528, who are considered to be the top strike
bowlers of the globe at the moment.
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