South Africa pacer Vernon Philander has announced his retirement from international cricket. He will play his final international match during the upcoming Test series against England. Philander, a genuine swing bowler, who has 261 scalps in 97 international matches and will add four more international caps to his account.
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He made his international debut in an ODI against Ireland in 2007 but came to prominence with his performances in Tests. The second quickest bowler to scalp 50 Test wickets, Philander had made his debut against Australia in 2011. He made an immediate impact and stole the limelight right at the start of his career.
Philander has 216 wickets at 22.16 in 60 Test matches so far. While he had a successful Test career, Philander did not have a great run in white-ball cricket. He played 30 ODIs in which he scalped 41 wickets. Philander played seven T20Is, all in 2007, in which he scalped four wickets.
“I would like to hereby announce that I will be retiring from international cricket at the conclusion of the Test series against England. It has been an honour and privilege to have played alongside the very best in the game as well as being part of the best Test team for several years. I feel that it is the appropriate time to conclude what has been an amazing journey. Thank you must also go to CSA, the Cape Cobras, all the coaches, management, captains and teammates and the very special fans from all over the world for your love and support,” he said three days prior to the opening Test against England.
Philander is another player to retire in recent times. In August, Dale Steyn quit the longest format – he will continue to play white-ball cricket. While nothing has been confirmed, there can be a case that Philander might go on to sign a Kolpak deal with an English franchise.
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Hashim Amla, who also retired in August, signed a Kolpak deal with Surrey. Earlier this year, Duanne Olivier quit playing for South Africa to join Yorkshire on a Kolpak deal.
South Africa and England play a full-fledged series with the first international fixture starting on December 26 in Centurion. The next three Tests will be played from January 3, 16 and 24 in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg, respectively. Following the Tests, the two teams play three ODIs and three T20Is.