Published: Feb 19, 2019, 06:55 PM (IST)
Edited: Feb 19, 2019, 06:55 PM (IST)
South Africa fast bowler Vernon Philander has been ruled out of the second Test against Sri Lanka which begins on February 21 at Port Elizabeth due to a hamstring injury.
The new ball specialist did not take to the field on the last day of the opening Test following his injury which hurt the hosts as Kusal Perera played a gem of an innings to seal a thrilling one-wicket victory.
Injury update from the Proteas camp: Vernon Philander will miss the second Castle Lager Test against Sri Lanka due to a hamstring injury. There will be no replacement add to the squad #SAvSL pic.twitter.com/gKiU2ZGexc
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) February 19, 2019
“Injury update from the Proteas camp: Vernon Philander will miss the second Castle Lager Test against Sri Lanka due to a hamstring injury. There will be no replacement add to the squad #SAvSL,” read a tweet from Cricket South Africa’s account on Tuesday. (ALSO READ: South Africa seek revival after shock defeat against Sri Lanka)
With Philander out of the Proteas’ ICC World Cup 2019 plans, his injury may not see him wear ODI colours till October’s three-Test tour to India for South Africa’s first participation in the ICC World Test Championship. (ALSO READ: We had belief that Kusal Perera could do it for Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne)
The 33-year-old Philander, who has played 58 Tests, has picked 214 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 2.66. After the second Test, both teams will be engaged in five-match ODI series which gets underway on March 3 at the Wanderers. The three-match Twenty20 Internationals begin on March 19 with the first match at Newlands in Cape Town.
