Former South African bowler Vernon Philander has been appointed Pakistan’s bowling consultant ahead of the T20 World Cup in Dubai and Oman.
Vernon Philander comes out of retirement to rejoin WP
Former Proteas bowler Vernon Philander has come out of retirement to rejoin his hometown club Western Province.
Former South African bowler Vernon Philander has been appointed Pakistan’s bowling consultant ahead of the T20 World Cup in Dubai and Oman.
Former Proteas bowler Vernon Philander believes he still has ‘probably two or three years’ left in the tank after coming out of retirement to rejoin his hometown club Western Province.
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Vernon Philander was the fastest to 50 and 100 Test wickets in Proteas history, finishing with career figures of 224 wickets in 64 matches at an average of 22.32.
And such is the efficient nature of his bowling action that he is able to able to get through his overs without putting too much stress on his body which ensures his longevity. Also, his action does not rely on pace, which is often age-dependent.
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And the Ravensmead-born seamer, who is 35, is looking forward to guiding the youngsters in the WP side and passing on his wisdom.
“Western Province will have a young squad and there is a big need for me to play a part there, considering I still probably have two or three years left in me and I still have the firepower to perform and do well,” Vernon Philander said in an interview with the Citizen.
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“There is also not much experience around the country and I”m looking at the greater picture. We were fortunate to learn from older guys when we started out whether they were in our squad or not.
“So, there”s a massive role to play in helping the future generations with those extra learnings; they can tap into our knowledge and hopefully stay calmer for longer.
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“Hopefully I can help make sure they mature in the proper manner. Obviously I am still playing for trophies, but I want to encourage bowlers from other teams to speak to me so I can help South African cricket grow. My goal is ultimately to help the standard of cricket in this country by setting a good example. You want an atmosphere of enjoying what you do, but you also have a responsibility to perform.”
