Vernon Philander - all wrongs make a right

[Brainfade]

Stocky.  Yes, muscular, but stocky with even a little semblance of a belly. 

 

 

Slow, lumbering run-up.  No flair, almost seems like he is struggling to get his body turned while delivering the ball.  In the end, decent action, middling speed.  But, look at his numbers and they just boggle your mind.  

 

Mat	Inns	Balls	Runs	Wkts	BBI	BBM	Ave	Econ	SR	4w	5w	10
Tests	48	89	8733	3946	182	6/42	10/102	21.68	2.71	47.9	7	12	2

 

Obviously he has never completely destroyed / run through a line up taking 7 or 8 wickets and striking fear (today was his best ever showing), but keeps chipping away getting results.  I can't think of any good comparison of such a workhorse bowler with superstar statistics. 

Edited January 8, 2018 by Brainfade

[goose]

it's simple. if you don't ball bad balls the batsman has to hit your good balls

[maniac]

What is the point if you can run like a gazelle look like an Olympic sprinter,bowl at 140 clicks and bowl over the place.

[veer]

Honestly speaking.. i didnt see 6fer type bowling from him. He was the weakest of all with the old ball with barely hitting 130k..  i hope one of our batters go after him in 2nd test. If batters play his bowls on merit then he will go for a plenty.

[Brainfade]

3 minutes ago, goose said:

it's simple. if you don't ball bad balls the batsman has to hit your good balls

If it were that simple, more bowlers would do it.  That kind of consistency is obviously not common.  I've been watching cricket for 4 decades, but can't easily think of a bowler of this nature.  McGrath maybe?  But there was something fearsome about McGrath.  He was tall, lithe, flexible, great action, looked like a fast bowler, and ran through batting line ups.  This guy is just ... not sure what.

[Brainfade]

Just now, veer said:

Honestly speaking.. i didnt see 6fer type bowling from him. He was the weakest of all with the old ball with barely hitting 130k..  i hope one of our batters go after him in 2nd test. If batters play his bowls on merit then he will go for a plenty.

Exactly.  I am looking beyond today's 6-fer.  Look at his avg (<22) and SR (<48).  Barely hitting 130k, looking like the weakest link, but delivering consistently.

[rkt.india]

How many of them in SA?

[goose]

not saying it's simple but the method is.

what's fearsome is a guy that just keeps putting it on the same spot. the sight of such man, whatever he looks like, will scare you.

[rkt.india]

Even BK do same on these pitches. 

[maniac]

Just now, rkt.india said:

Even BK do same on these pitches. 

Yes and hence he is the best fast bowler from India currently.

[rkt.india]

Just now, Brainfade said:

Exactly.  I am looking beyond today's 6-fer.  Look at his avg (<22) and SR (<48).  Barely hitting 130k, looking like the weakest link, but delivering consistently.

In these conditions. It's like Jaddu delivering on Indian pitches.

[rkt.india]

Just now, maniac said:

Yes and hence he is the best fast bowler from India currently.

I would say on pitches which have something for bowlers.

[maniac]

Just now, rkt.india said:

I would say on pitches which have something for bowlers.

What about bowlers who are not able to do even that? 

 

It is lovely to have Starc and Cummins in the line up but if that option is not available Anderson and Philander will do.

[Brainfade]

4 minutes ago, rkt.india said:

How many of them in SA?

His away record:

(M)23 

(I)41

(W)69

(Avg)27.27

(ER)2.67

(SR)61.26 

 

Not earth-shattering, but more than decent.  

[rkt.india]

2 minutes ago, Brainfade said:

His away record:

(M)23 

(I)41

(W)69

(Avg)27.27

(ER)2.67

(SR)61.26 

 

Not earth-shattering, but more than decent.  

3 wickets per test.

[rkt.india]

5 minutes ago, maniac said:

What about bowlers who are not able to do even that? 

 

It is lovely to have Starc and Cummins in the line up but if that option is not available Anderson and Philander will do.

I am not saying there is anything wrong about it. I am saying its not surprising seeing the kind pitches SA prepare at home. He has played all his cricket here and has learnt that art of just pitching the ball in that good length  area and he knows his limitations.

[Brainfade]

4 minutes ago, rkt.india said:

3 wickets per test.

 

1 minute ago, rkt.india said:

I am not saying there is anything wrong about it. I am saying its not surprising seeing the kind pitches SA prepare at home. He has played all his cricket here and has learnt that art of just pitching the ball in that good length  area and he knows his limitations.

I guess that is my point.  There is nothing to fear, it seems. 

Dale Steyn - ATG. 

Rabada - young, tearaway, beautiful action. 

Morkel - fast, bouncy. 

Philander?  Nothing remarkable.  Dibble-dobble but with 22 average.  Just give him the right conditions.

[Tattieboy]

1 hour ago, Brainfade said:

If it were that simple, more bowlers would do it.  That kind of consistency is obviously not common.  I've been watching cricket for 4 decades, but can't easily think of a bowler of this nature.  McGrath maybe?  But there was something fearsome about McGrath.  He was tall, lithe, flexible, great action, looked like a fast bowler, and ran through batting line ups.  This guy is just ... not sure what.

Maybe this guy. ...is just a good bowler 

[Brainfade]

1 minute ago, Tattieboy said:

Maybe this guy. ...is just a good bowler 

Yep. Just doesn't "look the part."  And that is intriguing.  

[Tattieboy]

12 minutes ago, Brainfade said:

Yep. Just doesn't "look the part."  And that is intriguing.  

Just maybe he bowls accordingly to what is in front of him and bowls to the weakness he is seeing at the time and not worrying if he  lands in the crease at 46.5mph or bowling a  speed of 145.677 because it's a Tuesday and Wednesday will mean 144.4555