Test Cricket. The pinnacle of the sport. The crucible of the contest, where man is put through the rigour of time; testing their talent under conditions that develop over the potential of 5 days of sporting drama, where only the strong survive.

There is nothing new, surprising, or even baffling about such words, but the riddle is just about to begin with the rapid rise of one, Vernon Darryl Philander, making this testing sport look a little akin to a child playing.

After claiming six of New Zealand’s best in the 3rd Test – no tongue-in-cheek – Vernon would pass the 50th Test wicket mark.

An honour, in and of itself, but when you are reminded that this took place in the First Innings of his 7th Test, this very quickly becomes, a little riddle-iculous. He now sits proudly on this list, tied with, T Richardson [England], who also attained it in 7 tests. But, tragically, he falls one Test short of the joining, CTB Turner [Australia], who made it in six. Just before you think this is an everyday occurrence, Turner would set the mark in 1888, while Richardson would challenge this in 1896 – some time between drinks.

While I have loaded the fireworks at the front, there are other recent names such as the Australian’s, Rodney “I really didn’t like you” Hogg and Terry Aldermann, who would complete the feat in 8 Tests in the Late Seventies/Early Eighties. The last time it was completed in the 90s was by Stuart MacGill in 9 Tests. It has been quiet since.

Therefore, while it is a cracking start, it is also much more about what follows. After all, Muralitharan would take 13 Tests, Warne would take 14 tests. New Zealand’s greatest, Sir Richard Hadlee, would take 14, one less Test than Chris Martin; now look at their records. Glenn McGrath, who many have compared with Vern, even took 15 Tests to reach the 50 wicket milestone.

All of which is to say, while a great beginning is insightful, a good number of players would become great because they progressively took their game to that next level.

Vern just may prove the exception in that he arrived already elevated.

For those of us located in New Zealand, we had only read the accounts, as the South African home series was singularly available on someone else’s stream. We were already initiated with the world of Steyn and Morkel, but it was this new man who had invigorated the fraternity in the Republic, which peaked, and finally, killed our curiosity. His exceptional start can be explained away at home, but on the road, in “our” foreign conditions, such would surely test his talent.

Result?

Before the Second Innings of the 3rd Test in this series, Vernon Philander had taken 21 Blackcaps, while the rest of the Proteas attack had divvy’d-up 20 between the lot of them.

Oh!

On the final day, Morne Morkel, would provide some greater respectability to this equation, putting the majority shareholders back in the lead, but think again about these numbers, his time in this attack, and his present impact on the Proteas playing hopes.

Axiomatic anyone?!

Where did it all begin?

Vernon Philander would make his first-class debut late March, 2004, after being earmarked for future things, making the South African under 19 side in 2003. He would ply his trade in the local domestic competition eventually building a CV that could not be ignored by the selectors at the time. In 2006-07 he produced an impressive one-day season for the Cobras, averaging 72 with the bat and 30 with the ball. What is noteworthy for all those who have watched his recent work at Test level, is that his initial impact was in the shorter form.

He would go on to make his one day Interntional Debut on 24th June, 2007, versus Ireland. Four wickets on debut; not an ineffective early sign, the opposition notwithstanding. However, this would be quickly followed with a return to terra firma, where he would go wicketless against India, a couple of days later in the Future Cup. Next on the agenda were New Zealand’s favourite whipping boy, Zimbabwe, with a solid two wickets in his third international in Bulawayo.

Six wickets in three Internationals to begin your career.

Solid.

A sign of things to come?

He would go wicketless in his following four Internationals in 2007, and would have to wait some 12 months time against England in their Motherland in 2008, to play it again Sam, where he would be again wicketless, in two Internationals against the Poms.

A potential International future stalled just as it had begun?

History may describe this period as his Jekyll, as some four years later, in the classical form of the game in early November 2011, he would get a start that many in the Republic at the time, wanted to forget about, which would begin a run of form in one of the toughest arena’s of sport that time is indeed telling us to mark.

The pages in history were about to start turning

Why did he Fail to Fire?

It is very easy to ask such questions, this end, of his beginning.

Why even start the young man in the shorter forms?

The Proteas have always had a prominent pace attack, so it is easy to understand the battle for places, but not as easy to understand what transformed in his game. The distance that separates this scribe from this account means that intimate vision is lacking. However, a perusal of his first-class bowling statistics, affirms an 18.90 average in 78 matches, taking 313 wickets, in total. What is insightful is that in 35 of the 78 matches, he has taken 4 wickets or more in an innings.

Impotent? Perish the thought!

It is hard to relinquish the perspective that he has been producing the results domestically long before he arrived onto the Test stage, which likely also explains why he has found the transition as easy as the initials to AB, and why he is making such an impact. He has just followed through and continued like a metronome - rhythm and flow.

What a Beginning.

Getting dropped – failure – can be the best decision forced on you by others & on your career. Vernon Philander has proven it can be the beginning of something special and not the end of the dream.

On his Test Debut, at Newlands against Australia, he would take 3 wickets in the First Innings and then take his first 5 for in the Second, as the Proteas would take the win. Vernon Philander would also be awarded his first Man of the Match.

Hardly surprising.

It would not be a long wait before he would make another nuisance of himself for opposition batsmen, taking his second 5 for, in the Second Innings of the Second Test; a Test that will be remembered for the arrival of another quick, young Pat Cummins. However, Philander would earn the Man of the Series award.

Quite a beginning.

Unfortunately, the kissing your sister feeling would leave all wanting a Third Test, but – 1-1 – it would be, and Sri Lanka would be the Proteas next opponent, at home.

In the First Test of this Sri Lankan series, Philander would grab his first 10 wicket Test bag, taking a 5 for in each Innings. Just before the history of cricket burst into tears, reality would strike through injury, providing South Africa with another opportunity to blood a quick, Marchant de Lange. While Sri Lanka would tie the series in the Second Test, de Lange, would take 7 in their First Innings, and the Man of the Match award.

However, with the series tied – 1-1 – and the man fit, Philander would return to the line-up. The Proteas attack would find harmony, sharing the wicket-load, with Vern only picking up a pathetic 3 for, in either Innings, series won 2-1. AB de Villiers would be the Man of this Series.

Welcome to Aotearoa!

Against the Blackcaps in the just completed the series, his work has continued.

In the First Innings in Test One, he would remove 4, with his Second Innings planned messed up when rain ceased an intriguing contest, resulting in a Draw. South Africa, determined to underscore their recent class on the field, made Hamilton home, as Vern proved the lightning rod, taking 10 in the match, for the second time in 6 tests – 4 in the First and 6 in the Second.  Understandably, he would earn the Man of the Match award, as the Proteas would take a – 1-0 – lead, with one to play. In the Third and final Test, he was looming large in the First Innings, ripping the Blackheart out with 6, before the final day would leave the home side with another 6 for, and a fighting reprieve. Test drawn.

Proteas take the Test Series, 1-0

Vern?

In his 7 Test matches to-date, he has taken a total of 51 wickets, at a ludicrously low average of, 14.15, while only giving up 3.17 runs per over, taking just over 4 overs to take each victim out of the Innings.

Somebody Stop Him!

How Does He Do It?

In a cricketing world that becomes easily obsessed with the numbers on the gun, Philander is your military-striking-medium. Yes, he can push the higher 130s, but his game does not have the need for speed, and has proven a point to all.

He has evidenced in a world where there is an almost morbid fascination with the former, as the main man in this Proteas attack, other realities can define and determine your impact, and so he bowls.

The Proteas have a couple of handy quick men at the other end, and so Vernon is the scalpel to their sledgehammer. They love to put a Wellington northerly up the striking batsmen, even as Vern promises to remove their pain, one bowling action at a time.

He is able to surgically remove the opposition through exquisite line and length, delivered from a prime release point & placement close to the Umpire – with such control – behooving the batsmen to come and take a look at what he is offering.

Wrist action and the ability to hit the seam – both ways – are other uncanny traits that have been successively groomed over numerous seasons until they are being churned out like the proverbial.

When you combine all these components, the results are setting him apart. If he continues, he will become such a wicket-taking weapon; vermin for the opposition who can’t keep away from his poison.

I am sure much more can be added by those more qualified than the inscriber of these words, but it has become obvious to all that he is special talent.

The Future?

At just 26 years young, tracking toward 27, he has the time to torment a long list of victims. His bowling action, as much as every impacts on the body, his should not unduly stress out his structure. The man, potentially, has some 10 years in the cricketing Sun.

Only time will tell what tale and what woe, but if the beginning is a precursor to the end, this will be historical.

What can we learn?

It will surprise few that as a kiwi cricket lover, I grew up feasting on Sir Richard Hadlee; the refined version in particular, who would only give scraps to the opposition, and whose career stands out as one of the greatest in Test cricket.

It is uncouth to date Philander’s future script to this day, but he has something of the style, control, and refinement of New Zealand’s greatest ever Test cricketer. While, again, time will only tell if this was as fleeting as it has been exceptional, the figures of the past, so affirm that the great ones improve, which is a scary thought, if it applies to Philander.

Vernon Darryl Philander would arrive as a figment of our imagination, as his exploits in our worldview would be as sand.

However, he will leave New Zealand with a resume of his terra now proven firma, exemplifying why he has become the talk of cricketing world. While he would be the main cause of our downfall with the ball, one can only admit to admire the work of one who does it so well.

Hard to fathom the impact of 7 Tests with a ball in one hand.

It is just fortunate that in New Zealand we are experienced with that number in another sport, and we so love an All Black man in 7.

Wherefore art thou, Richie?!

We will watch this man’s future with interest, and somewhat secretly hope to wonder some more.

Finish Strong!

What Say You?

Until Next Time

iamjonnyking