Faf: Philander the ‘new Jacques Kallis’
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis hailed allrounder Vernon Philander as the “new Jacques Kallis” after the Proteas thrashed England at Trent Bridge on Monday to draw level in the four-match series.
Having been heavily beaten in the first Test at Lord’s, the Proteas decided to drop a batsman – Theunis de Bruyn – and play the extra allrounder in Chris Morris.
That change meant Philander, who also scored a fifty at Lord’s, got a promotion in the batting order – to number seven – and the Cape Cobras man repaid the selectors’ faith with a crucial 54 in the first innings in Nottingham.
Always lethal with the new ball, the 32-year-old took two wickets in England’s first innings and contributed another 42 runs in South Africa’s second innings with the willow.
Philander’s line and length with the ball was impeccable in the fourth innings as he nipped out three wickets to claim the man of the match award as the Proteas won by 340 runs.
REPORT: Proteas skewer England to level series
Kallis retired from Test cricket in 2013 after scoring more than 13 000 runs and taking 292 wickets in 166 games in the longest format for the Proteas.
Du Plessis said of Philander: “He’s becoming the new Jacques Kallis the way he’s batting. He’s a fantastic cricketer.
“When there’s something there (in the pitch), he’s probably the best in the world at doing something with it.
“We left a batsman out to play two allrounders, with that comes extra responsibility.
“With the promotion to number seven, I backed his technique and he responded by getting crucial runs in this game. He stepped up to the plate.”
The third Test of the series starts at the Oval on 27 July.
Latest
-
County Cricket
Surrey stars eager to help Alec Stewart sign off with more silverware
Stewart has guided Surrey to three County Championship wins during his decade in charge.
-
Women's Cricket
Maia Bouchier smashes 91 as England Women seal T20 series victory
England made 177 for three and then restricted New Zealand to 130 for seven.
-
County Cricket
Yorkshire boosted by Harry Brook and Joe Root’s early-season availability
Both players are not at the Indian Premier League.
-
England
Ollie Pope ‘itching’ to get back scoring runs after ‘frustrating’ tour of India
The England vice-captain hit a superb 196 in Hyderabad, but averaged only 14.75 in the next four Tests of the India series.
-
Women's Cricket
Ellyse Perry says Ashes Test at MCG ‘amazing’ but unsure about four-day return
Australia will host England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the Women’s Ashes early next year.
-
County Cricket
Harry Brook set to return for start of Yorkshire’s County Championship campaign
Brook withdrew from England’s Test tour of India in January due to personal reasons.
-
England
England spinner Tom Hartley expects his exploits in India to be ‘life changing’
Hartley’s second-innings haul of seven for 62 in Hyderabad delivered one England’s greatest ever overseas victories.
-
Women's Cricket
Heather Knight urges more composure from England after New Zealand collapse
The tourists needed just 29 from 29 balls with eight wickets in hand.
-
Australia
On this day in 2018: Australia ‘sandpapergate’ ball-tampering controversy erupts
The incident led to Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft being banned from playing for Australia.
-
England
Andrew Flintoff would be excellent England coach – Rob Key
The former national team captain will lead Northern Superchargers in The Hundred this summer.