Philander replaces injured Morkel
Morne Morkel, who is being sent home beacuse of a fractured left foot, has been replaced by Vernon Philander
Cricinfo staff
04-Oct-2007
Vernon Philander, the South African allrounder, has been named as Morne Morkel's replacement in the Test squad on the tour to Pakistan. Morkel fractured his left foot while bowling on the third day of the tour match against Patron's XI.
Philander, a right-hand batsman and a right-arm medium-fast bowler, made his international debut in an ODI against Ireland earlier this year. He has done well in the five ODIs he has played so far - averaging 40 with the bat and 21.50 with the ball - and was also a regular member of the team in the recently concluded World Twenty20 Cup, but is yet to make his Test debut. He is likely to stay on in Pakistan for the five-match one-day series, the squad for which will be announced later.
Morkel, meanwhile, has gone back home to recover from the injury, which could keep him away from cricket for about six to eight weeks.