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Nothing Sipamla.
(Images by Lee Warren / Gallo)
- Retired Proteas player Vernon Philander said the young Proteas attack should seize the opportunity to play test cricket.
- The 35-year-old has admitted to getting lost in the middle playing, but is enjoying life in the comment booth.
- Sri Lanka dominated on Day 1 after finishing 340/6 on stumps, during the first test at Centurion.
Proteas Retired Sewing Bowler Vernon philander offered some pearls of wisdom to the youthful-looking South African attack battling Sri Lanka in the first Test at Centurion.
Captain Quinton de Kock lacks star starting bowler Kagiso Rabada, which meant Lungi Ngidi had to open the bowling alley with rookie Lutho Sipamla at the other end of SuperSport Park.
READ | Clumsy Proteas, Sri Lanka takes control of the first test
The Proteas attack struggled a bit in the heat of southern Pretoria as a brave higher order from Sri Lanka brought the fight to the hosts early.
The visitors were 340/6 on stumps on Day 1 after Dinesh Chandimal (85), Dhananjaya de Silva (79, retired injured) and Niroshan Dickwella (49) put Sri Lanka in a comfortable position.
Sipamla (1/68) suffered a blow in the first session but rallied to take the maiden test scalp at the end when Wanindu Hasaranga cut off her labor on her stumps.
Ngidi (1/54) beat the bat numerous times, especially with the second new ball, while Wiaan Mulder, playing his second test, was the best option of the group with 3/68.
“Yeah, it’s a young bowling attack,” Philander said.
“But for me it should create the expectation of an opportunity. It is an opportunity for you to make a name for yourself.
“We may have lost some great fast pitchers. [But] I remember when we played a couple of tests without Dale Steyn and we had young guys that we needed to drag.
“I would like them to see that opportunity instead of wondering where to start or how they could find their feet.
“The will to do well is something I always talk about and they need to find that will within themselves to open the game or make a change.
“They have no experience, but we can’t stop at that and we can’t use that as an excuse.”
HOW IT HAPPENED | SA vs Sri Lanka – First Test, Day 1
Philander, 35, admitted to getting lost in the middle, especially as South Africa struggles after lunch in a heat approaching 30 degrees.
He said that he was enjoying his new incarnation in the comment booth since hanging up his nails, but wanted to contribute more to the game by transferring his skills to the new generation of seamers.
“I can’t lie, I obviously miss the game, especially when you see how things were on the first day,” Philander said.
“I didn’t expect this year to be the way it did, but I made the decision [to retire].
“Covid put a wrench in the works, but it gave me a little more time with the family and to put life in perspective.
“I enjoyed that time away from the game. And it’s always good to give back. Hopefully it’s much more than just commenting work.
“You can see that these guys need guidance and you can’t expect just one guy, Charl Langeveldt, to do it.
“You need a system of good mentors and coaches to make sure that when the guys get to this (Test) level, they are ready to go.”
“We need to start implementing the right things at the franchise level. There are a lot of former players that we could use to do that kind of work.”
