Top 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Vernon Darryl Philander

With an uncanny knack of landing the ball in the right place more than most, Philander is one of those bowlers who can bore a batsman out, bowling with consistency day in day out. Extreme pace may not be his ally but this Bellville-born South African has the ability to move the ball at a decent pace both ways.

Here’s a list of things you may have or may have not known about Vernon Darryl Philander:

1. Vernon Darryl Philander is from the Western Province.
2. Vernon Darryl Philander is a right-handed bowling all-rounder.
3.  Vernon has previously represented his country at under 19 level.
4. He plays for Cape Cobras in South African domestic cricket.
5. Vernon Darryl Philander made his ODI debut on his 22nd birthday, against Ireland at Belfast. He took 4 for 12, a match-winning performance.
6. Philander was chosen for the emerging players tournament in Australia, and took 3 for 30, as well as hitting 59 off 50 balls in the final against New Zealand A. South Africa would go on to win the tournament.
7. Philander has played English county cricket, firstly for Middlesex in April & May 2008, Somerset in April & May 2012, and Kent in July 2013.
8. In October 2012, alongside Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, Philander was part of a South African pace attack bowling coach and former test cricketer Allan Donald called the best the country had ever produced.
9. As of May 2013 he was rated by the ICC as the 2nd best bowler and the 3rd best all-rounder in the world. The best bowler and all-rounder being fellow South Africans Dale Steyn and Jacques Kallis respectively.
10. On 20 December 2013, Philander took his 100th test wicket in the first test against India in Johannesburg. He needed only 19 matches to reach his 100 wickets, the joint-sixth fastest ever. Earlier the same day he scored an anchor-innings of 59 runs (from 86 balls), batting at number 8, showing off his versatility for the Proteas.