Cape Town - Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morné Morkel have carried the Proteas bowling attack in Test cricket for a long time. Steyn and Morkel have been ever-present in limited-overs action as well, with Philander a bit-part player (something that should be looked at) in ODIs and T20s.
But with the two aforementioned pacemen on the sidelines for a number of months now, the Proteas’ bowling stocks, especially in the shorter versions of the game, suddenly don’t look as threatening as it should be.
Sure, Kagiso Rabada is already a world-class performer. He has been sensational across all formats, and has become so important to South African cricket that coach Russell Domingo can pick and choose when to play and rest him. Yes, the coach will decide…
Apart from Rabada, though, who else is there? Philander performed well against Australia and Sri Lanka during the last two Test series, but the last of his 30 ODIs came against New Zealand in August 2015. He has a solid record of 41 wickets at an average of 24.04, with a run-rate of 4.62.
Rabada’s ODI stats after 25 games read: 43 wickets at 25.11 and a run-rate of 5.24. The rest of the quicks picked for the five-match series against Sri Lanka, which starts in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, don’t boast records better than Philander’s.
Wayne Parnell is the most experienced, with 76 wickets in 54 games, with an average of 29.63 and a run-rate of 5.61.
Chris Morris and Andile Phehlukwayo have played in a combined 24 ODIs and both bowlers have a run-rate of around six per over, while the promising youngster Lungi Ngidi made his T20 debut last week and has yet to play in a 50-over game.
So, with Steyn and Morkel having not played for a long time, even though they might make comebacks in the months ahead, shouldn’t Philander be part of the Proteas’ ODI plans?
The 31-year-old is unfortunately remembered for all the wrong reasons in the one-day arena – that 2015 World Cup semi-final selection drama. But what many observers have ignored is the fact that it was an off-form Dale Steyn and not the in-form Kyle Abbott who should’ve made way for Philander in that game. That’s a debate for another day, though.
The situation at the moment in the Proteas ODI team is that Steyn and Morkel are not available, and Kyle Abbott is gone as well.
And what would make Philander’s presence even more necessary is the fact that the ICC Champions Trophy will be played in England in early summer in the first three weeks of June, when the pitches will aid seam bowling.
Proteas coach Russell Domingo stated at Newlands after Abbott confirmed his decision to sign a Kolpak deal that the Empangeni-born seamer would’ve opened the bowling in the Champions Trophy, but now that option is off the table.
Of course, the likes of Parnell, Morris and Phehlukwayo have been picked for their batting ability as well, which is fine. But surely there needs to be at least one more “specialist” paceman alongside Rabada to take the new ball? And Philander is handy with the bat.
The 10 remaining ODIs, against Sri Lanka and New Zealand, would’ve been an ideal opportunity to see if Philander could be a solution and replacement for Abbott. And how ironic wouldn’t that have been?
Philander is a key component of the Test attack, and is probably being rested for the three-game series against New Zealand coming up in March.
But the Proteas would love to add just their second ICC title to their name (they won the very first Champions Trophy in 1998), and they have missed a trick by not at least having another look at Philander in 50-over cricket.
@ashfakmohamed