ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Vernon Philander ruled out of South Africa-West Indies clash

ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Vernon Philander ruled out of South Africa-West Indies clash

Sydney: South Africa fast bowler Vernon Philander has been ruled out of Friday’s key ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 clash against the West Indies in Sydney after failing to recover from hamstring injury. Philander had injury concerns prior to the match against India as well, but was selected for the game nonetheless. However, the injury flared up again midway through India’s innings, and Philander was unable to complete his quota of overs. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: POINTS TABLE

Philander hobbled off the field after sending down just four overs in Sunday’s 130-run loss to India in Melbourne. When he batted, he was dismissed for nought. “Vernon Philander has sustained Grade 1 hamstring strain & has been ruled out of the match vs West Indies on Friday,” a statement on South Africa’s Twitter feed said Tuesday. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: SCHEDULE & MATCH DETAILS

“Vernon sustained a Grade 1 hamstring strain which was confirmed by the scans done in Sydney on Monday afternoon,” Proteas team manager Mohammed Moosajee said Tuesday. “The recovery period for a hamstring strain normally takes a week to 10 days which makes him unavailable for the match against the West Indies in Sydney on Friday.” ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Complete Coverage

Moosajee added it was too early to tell if Philander, 29, will be available for the match against Ireland in Canberra on March 3, and that the all-rounder will be given the best opportunity to recover to full fitness. “The Ireland match, as we speak, is eight days away,” he said. “With the recovery period being a week to 10 days, we have to give him every opportunity to make sure that he can be available.

“At the same time we don’t want to be foolish by taking short-cuts, we will go through the usual treatment protocols and the return-to-play protocols. If he passes all the fitness tests and is symptom free going into the Ireland game he may play but at this stage it is too early to tell.”

Philander and Dale Steyn were both in danger of missing out against India, with Steyn suffering from sinusitis prior to the game. Both men recovered in time, but were unable to stave off defeat as Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, and Virat Kohli helped take India past 300. In response, South Africa crumbled to a huge defeat as India triumphed for the first time against the Proteas in World Cup cricket.