Questions remain over Philander fitness for World Cup semi

Times Media

TELFORD VICE, Cape Town

VERNON Philander, the man at the centre of the scandal over the selection of the SA team for the World Cup semi-final last month, arrived in good working order for his stint with Nottinghamshire, the county says.

At least, Notts were willing to take Cricket SA’s (CSA) word for it. “He was fully fit, and he was signed off as fully fit by the SA team management,” Nottinghamshire director of cricket Mick Newell told Times Media. “We’ve got no restrictions on him.”

But, between the semi-final and his first game for Notts, Philander had 18 days to recover from the hamstring injury that had reduced his workload at the World Cup from a possible 80 to 28.3 overs.

Several sources have told Times Media that Philander’s selection in SA’s team for the semi-final was forced on the team on transformation grounds by the board of Cricket SA (CSA).

CSA have denied interference but have admitted that their chief executive, Haroon Lorgat, was “consulted” over the make-up of the team and that he “impressed upon (selection convenor Andrew Hudson and SA coach Russell Domingo) the need to properly consider the best XI bearing in mind the transformation guidelines (to pick at least four black players in the team)”.

The suits want the story to go away but it won’t. Philander’s fitness has been an important part of the saga, especially considering he left the field after bowling his eight overs in the semi-final. Despite that CSA have insisted he was declared fit for the match.

On the 16th day after the semi-final, April 9, an interview with Philander was published in the Nottingham Post. “I’ve done all the rehab to get to where I am today so, yes, I’m ready to go again,” he was quoted as saying.

That says he didn’t arrive at Trent Bridge in optimum condition. Philander did not respond to messages asking if he was fit to play in the World Cup semi-final.

But he put his money where his mouth is in his first match for Notts, against Middlesex at Lord’s starting on April 12, by taking the new ball in both innings and bowling 37.5 overs. He took 1/80 and batted for 81 minutes.

Philander is currently playing in the second of the six championship matches he has been contracted for, this time against Yorkshire at Trent Bridge. By tea yesterday, he had bowled 26 overs in Yorkshire’s first innings and taken 2/51.

“He’s been bowling well and he’s been very helpful in the dressingroom,” Newell said.

Philander will also play three T20 games for the county. He will soon have a compatriot’s company in England what with Derbyshire announcing on Tuesday that Hashim Amla had been signed to play two championship and three T20 matches.