39 years back, it was on this very day (June 24) in 1985 when the Former star South Africa pacer, Vernon Philander was born in South Africa’s Bellville. One of the bowling greats in Tests served South Africa for almost a decade from his debut in November 2011 to his Test retirement in January 2020.
The Cape Cobras pacer made his first-ever international appearance for South Africa 17 years back on his 22nd birthday on June 24, 2007. In his debut appearance in Belfast ODI against Ireland, Philander impressed everyone with his sensational bowling as he scalped 4 wickets just at the cost of only 12 runs in 5.5 overs, including one maiden over.
South Africa won this match by 42 runs against Ireland after bundling the latter at the score of 131 runs in defending the score of 173 runs in the rain-affected 31-over game.
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One of the most consistent pacers to play Test Cricket for South Africa
Coming back to Philander, he was one of the regular bowlers in the Tests for the Proteas; meanwhile, he also played 30 ODIs and scalped 41 wickets in 28 innings of these matches, including 2 four-wicket hauls.
Speaking of his illustrious Test career as one of the key pacers for SA, The Surgeon scalped 224 wickets in 119 innings of the 64 matches he played throughout his career. On the back of his sensational bowling prowess, Philander claimed 8 four-wicket hauls, 13 five-wicket hauls and 2 ten-wicket hauls in a match.
Apart from his bowling in the Tests, Philander also had a few significant contributions with the bat as he scored 1779 runs in 94 innings, with an average of 24.04, hitting 8 half-centuries, including 20 ‘not-out’ outings.
Other than his Test and ODI career, The Pro was also a part of South Africa’s squad in the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup in 2007 on home soil. He played 7 T20Is and scalped 4 wickets.