Vernon Philander may not be the fastest of the South African lot but he’s a match winning bowler never the less. Accuracy with line and length is his greatest strength even though he isn’t the fastest. Philander is a wonderful bowler who can turn a game on its head single handedly.
He has a great ability to swing the ball both ways and that’s what makes him a dangerous customer with the ball. Vernon Philander is the second fastest to reach 50 test wickets having scalped a half century of test wickets in just 7 matches.
At Newlands in the first test between India and South Africa, Philander’s eyes were searching for someone in the stands every time he took a wicket. Who was the man Philander looking for and waving in to after picking wickets?
(Photo Source: Indian Express)
Philander’s special gesture for his mentor
The man Philander looked for every time he picked a wicket was the pacer’s mentor. Johannas Adams is the name of the man at whom Philander waved each time he knocked down a batsman.
It was Adams who found the spark in Philander when the pacer was at the pre teenage stage. Since then Adams has mentored him and trained him and Adams is the confidence and the main ingredient behind Philander’s success.
Philander recently completed his tally of 100 test wickets. He’s going strength by strength in his career and he holds a big soft corner for Adams who has mentored and groomed him. Often people forget where they came from when they get success but Philander isn’t one of them.
Philander knows who mentored him and respects him amply for having faith in him and making him reach the international pedestal. This amply sweet gesture by Philander is winning hearts everywhere.
