Proteas superstar Vernon Philander will have to wait another week before making his return to the cricket field for the Cape Cobras.
The Test seamer has been out with an ankle ligament injury sustained during the India tour in October, and has made a thorough recovery to a very serious problem.
He was seen bowling in the Newlands nets to the Proteas before their recent T20 international against England, and has been working on his game for a few weeks already.
But Cobras coach Paul Adams is choosing to be conservative with a top bowler like Philander than risk him unnecessarily for Thursday’s Sunfoil Series clash against the Highveld Lions in Potchefstroom.
The Cobras announced on their website on Wednesday that fellow right-arm seamer Dane Paterson is also being given a breather after a busy schedule for the Cobras and South Africa A in recent months.
But the Cape side will welcome back former Proteas paceman Rory Kleinveldt to the starting XI in what is a strong bowling attack that also contains Wayne Parnell, Beuran Hendricks, Tshepo Moreki and Test spinner Dane Piedt.
The Cobras have battled in the Sunfoil Series this season, having won just one out of their five games, with two defeats and two draws. They are languishing in second-last on the log, and probably won’t come into contention for the title, unless there’s a dramatic turnaround and other results go their way.
But they had an unbeaten run in four-day cricket in January, winning one and drawing two, and would want to hit back after losing the One-Day Cup final to the Lions at Newlands on Sunday.
“We have got to get going and make sure we are switched on. I think we need at least two centuries per game in the next five games, as the batting unit must set up the game for us. We have Test players there like Dane Piedt and Stiaan van Zyl. Stiaan must display good four-day form. He is in a good space,” Adams said.
“It is important that the senior players step up, especially after the weekend, and lead the way. They have the experience and know how to turn things around after a major disappointment. You can always dwell on disappointment and things like that, but that’s gone. We need to move on and that’s how it goes.”
Cape Cobras Squad
Andrew Puttick, Simon Khomari, Omphile Ramela (captain), Stiaan van Zyl, Justin Ontong, Dane Vilas, Wayne Parnell, Dane Piedt, Rory Kleinveldt, Tshepo Moreki, Beuran Hendricks, Richard Levi.
@IndyCapeSport