Somerset line up Philander deal
Somerset have lined up Vernon Philander, the South Africa pace bowler, as an overseas player for the first two months of next season
ESPNcricinfo staff
15-Dec-2011
Vernon Philander will be available for the first half of the English season if he is not involved in the IPL • AFP
Somerset have lined up Vernon Philander, the South Africa pace bowler, as an overseas player for the first two months of next season.
The deal is subject to Philander not being involved with the IPL, which which overlaps the start of the county campaign. If he is available he will add depth to Somerset's pace attack for the first half of the County Championship season before South Africa's series against England begins.
Philander burst onto the Test scene in November when he took 5 for 15 on debut against Australia at Cape Town and ended with the Man-of-the-Series award.
"Watching Vernon bowl in Cape Town against Australia recently I was immediately impressed by his ability and character in an especially demanding debut on his home ground," Brian Rose, Somerset's director of cricket, told the club website. "His all-round ability will be a great asset in our side and I'm sure our supporters will be engaged by his infectious personality."
Should Philander join he would help cover for the loss of Charl Willoughby, the left-arm seamer, who departed Somerset after the 2011 season and has joined Essex.