Smith wants Philander to boost pace

[rkt.india]

There is a certain look of disbelief that passes over a Captonian's face if they are told something in their city could improve. Who can blame them? The jewel of Africa seems perfectly polished in every way with a sea as azure as the skies above it and plenty to suit all tastes. The same incredulity was felt by those in the presence of Graeme Smith when he mentioned after the Newlands Test he believes Vernon Philander could get better. Philander was not named Man of the Match despite his nine wickets because Robin Peterson's 84 was the real difference between the two sides but it would have been a tough decision given Philander's feat. He claimed his ninth five-wicket haul in just his 15th Test. It was also his fourth at Newlands and took his total tally of Test wickets to 87. His wickets per Test sit at 5.8 (his new-ball partner Dale Steyn's are at 5.1) and his average remains a staggering 16.81, statistically making him the most dangerous bowler on the international circuit. Of all current cricketers, Philander has the lowest average by some distance. Steyn is next with an average of 22.68. If Philander gets any better, batsmen will stand even less of a chance than they do against South Africa now and Smith warned that is possible he will. "Vernon will be the first to admit that he is still a work in progress," Smith said. "He would like to see his pace up. His skill factor is at a very high level and his seam action is unmatched. He is like the seam version of Saeed Ajmal. But if he can pick up a little bit of pace, his old ball spells will get better. His new ball spells are already so effective and if he can get the old ones to the same level? When Philander broke onto the scene in 2007 the main concern was that he as too much of a trundler to cut it. He rarely goes beyond 135 kph although he is a major threat despite that. Philander's danger is in the subtlety. Like Ajmal, batsmen are unsure what the ball is going to do when it comes out of the hand. Philander's secret is not prodigious swing as he only moves the ball a few centimetres but because he can do it both ways, it creates uncertainty. Most of his wickets result from edges because batsmen are not sure whether to go forward or back to him and they are often found out on the drive. With the new ball, his seam movement is more pronounced as expected and there were some concerns during this series that South Africa lacked the ability to attack with the old ball. Philander proved that wrong with his second-innings burst that was aided by poor shot selection from the Pakistan middle order. Philander showed he can still make the ball talk later in the match. "We knew an old ball spell could win us the Test match", Smith said. "When we are able to control the run-rate and then frustrate them, we thought if we could make the old ball work for us, we'd be able to get close to dismissing them and having a chaseable target." Creating something even where conditions don't suit is what has always been seen as Philander's challenge. So far, he has been able to succeed at home, in England, New Zealand and Australia but the subcontinent remains his biggest test. South Africa's next Test series will be played in such conditions in the United Arab Emirates against Pakistan and it's there that Philander could claim his 100th scalp, unless he manages 13 wickets at Centurion starting Friday. It also means that Philander will probably not become the fastest to 100 Test wickets because George Lohmann holds the record, having achieved it in 16 matches. SuperSport Park will be Philander's 16th. He is, however, in line to become the fastest South African to the mark. Had injuries not kept him out of three matches he could have played in, Philander may have had his 100 haul already. Those niggles are another source of concern. Three Tests after making his first appearance, Philander picked up a knee problem that ruled him out of the 2011 Boxing Day Test against Sri Lanka. Marchant de Lange replaced him and became the year's most successful debutant with 7 for 81 but has since had stress fractures that kept him out of action for most of the season. In November 2012 in Australia, Philander woke up with back spasms on the morning of the Adelaide Test and Rory Kleinveldt replaced him at the 11th hour. It allowed Kleinveldt, who opens the bowling with Philander for their franchise, the Cobras, to redeem himself from a poor first outing in Brisbane and to show his own skills. Kleinveldt also stood in for Philander in Port Elizabeth against New Zealand in January when a hamstring injury ruled Philander out. Although Philander has recovered from the hamstring problem, it has been described by the team manager Mohammed Moosajee, who is also a medical doctor, as chronic. Philander will not be managed in the same Jacques Kallis is - where his quota of overs in monitored - but his participation domestically is looked at as one way of keeping a handle on the problem. Given Philander's value to the national team, it is not a problem anyone will complain about too much.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/south-africa-v-pakistan-2013/content/current/story/605386.html

[Sandeep99]

He could be lethal at 140! Dhoni doesn't give a damn to our speedsters, if you can call them that

[rkt.india]

He could be lethal at 140! Dhoni doesn't give a damn to our speedsters' date=' if you can call them that[/quote'] Dont think so. He will lose control if he tries to hit 140K. He is good because he is accurate and consistent at around 130 and moves the ball both ways.

[JaFanatic]

let him be what he is

[Sandeep99]

Dont think so. He will lose control if he tries to hit 140K. He is good because he is accurate and consistent at around 130 and moves the ball both ways.

Thats the challenge! Not losing control at 140, or atleast 135... How much I wished PK bowled at 130-135!!

[Lord]

hes is good as it is.dont destroy him

[Number]

Smith is a speedgun reading fanatic.

[Old guy]

lol he is not asking him to bowl 140 k what he said is true if he can gain 5 k which is pretty reasonable and cane be done without losing control then he will be better old ball bowler specially on flat tracks he does not wants him to be fast bowler but i think there is room for improvement..and whats wrong with asking player to achieve his best? ofc if its not possible to increase pace without losing control and this is his best then he wont ..its common sense

[panther]

Smith knows he will be thrashed on flat tracks at his current pace.

[Old guy]

Smith knows he will be thrashed on flat tracks at his current pace.

wrong philander even in australia had decent economy rate he never gets thrashed what smith wants is to philander to keep improving and not be content imo and thats good attitude.. there is something abt south africa team they do have talented individuals but they manage them well and many of them developed into world beaters by keeping improving.. best example is hashim amla from good player to best in world right now..

[NareshK]

It will be interesting to see how he bowls in conditions where there is no swing. Bowling at 125 k without not much bounce is generally not effective. But Philander seems to be getting lot more movement than other bowlers(except Steyn) in the same conditions.

[Needforspeed]

Smith supports Phaasssssst bowlers. How about exchange with Pishhant our phast bowler.

[Lord]

Smith supports Phaasssssst bowlers. How about exchange with Pishhant our phast bowler.

lol:giggle:

[G_B_]

wrong philander even in australia had decent economy rate he never gets thrashed what smith wants is to philander to keep improving and not be content imo and thats good attitude.. there is something abt south africa team they do have talented individuals but they manage them well and many of them developed into world beaters by keeping improving.. best example is hashim amla from good player to best in world right now..

actually by bowling long spells in aus he had major injury issues he bowled a long spell in the first test and then pulled out of the second. If vernon does try to add another 5 k me thinks he is going to miss an aweful lot of test matches

[G_B_]

and btw for the record Philander averages 50 with the ball in australia in the two test matches he has played at an economy of 3.

[Clarke]

If it ain't broke ......

[Iconoclast]

#1 Ranking is beginning to go to his head .. he's really beginning to act like an @$$ ... see the other strange comments he's been making this series.

[SLICKR392]

#1 Ranking is beginning to go to his head .. he's really beginning to act like an @$$ ... see the other strange comments he's been making this series.

He has made no strange comments. Its the drubbing by his team that has got to "YOUR" head. :fishing:

[khanjee]

let him play in subcon first and we will know how good he is ..

[Old guy]

actually by bowling long spells in aus he had major injury issues he bowled a long spell in the first test and then pulled out of the second. If vernon does try to add another 5 k me thinks he is going to miss an aweful lot of test matches

Then he should and would not but I like attitude... Why would u ever stop improving? Honestly if it is possible for him to get fitter and gain bit of pace then he should... But I hope he does not changes anything else