It’s been a long four months out of top-level cricket for Vernon Philander, but the wait is finally over.
The world-class Proteas seamer will make his return to franchise cricket for the Cape Cobras on Thursday in a Sunfoil Series clash against the Dolphins at Newlands (10am start).
The 30-year-old Philander sustained a nasty ankle injury during the tour of India in November, and has been sidelined since, despite earlier hopes of a comeback during the England Test tour.
But that passed by, and the Cape star only got back on to the field just over two weeks ago in a club match for Tygerberg against UCT. Philander had a match analysis of 2/20 in 11 overs, and scored 52 at No 5 in Tygerberg’s only chance to bat as they won by an innings and 32 runs.
More than a week ago, Philander was back in first-class cricket for the Western Province Amateur team in a match against KwaZulu-Natal at the Wally Wilson Oval in Claremont, the home of club side WPCC.
Philander spearheaded the Province attack and took 4/40 in the first innings and 1/28 in the second to set up an easy 10-wicket victory as WP enforced the follow-on.
While the Proteas’ next assignment after a failed ICC World T20 campaign will only be in June – when they play in an ODI triangular in the Caribbean against the West Indies and Australia – and the following Test series in August against New Zealand in South Africa, Philander will look to make a strong comeback and get lots of overs under his belt in the last two Sunfoil Series games of the season.
The Cobras announced on their website on Wednesday that former Proteas paceman Rory Kleinveldt is also available for the Dolphins match, while Justin Ontong will take over the captaincy from Omphile Ramela, who is away on study leave.
That means there will be a new opening batsman in Boland’s Cebo Tshiki, who scored 98 in his last match for his province against KZN-Inland on March 21.
The Cobras have little to play for as they are languishing in second-last position on the six-team log, but coach Paul Adams is hoping to end off the season in style. “I think it’s important for us to strive for improvement, particularly in the areas where we have been inconsistent. We’re really determined to end of on a good note in these last couple of weeks,” Adams said.
“Our inconsistency and decision-making has let us down this season, so we want to make sure we get better at those things. We have to make sure we’re in gear so we can play according to the way we want to.”
Ontong also hopes to score his first ton of the season, having 467 runs in the competition. “I am not satisfied with the way I have performed with the bat this season, as I struck four half-centuries but no hundreds,” he said.
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