Vernon Philander set for South Africa return
Friday 8 July 2016 16:59, UK
South Africa fast bowler Vernon Philander is set for an international return just eight months after suffering a freak injury.
The 31-year-old damaged ankle ligaments during a football match while touring India in November, and missed the country's 2-1 series defeat to England.
But he's set to appear for South Africa A against Zimbabwe A when the four-day match starts in Harare on Saturday.
It follows three first-class appearances for Western Province and Cape Cobras at the end of last season.
"I never quite knew the severity of the injury until a couple of months after and it's been coming and going," Philander said.
"But these last few weeks it's really been holding up. I'm just looking forward to getting out there and playing cricket again."
The right-arm seamer will be hoping to work his way back into the Test team for next month's two-match series against New Zealand. Philander has taken 126 wickets in 32 Tests.
