CRICKET: Somerset pounce for South African all-rounder (From Bridgwater Mercury)

CRICKET: Somerset pounce for South African all-rounder

7:40am Thursday 15th December 2011 in Somerset CCC

SOMERSET have moved to sign South African all- rounder Vernon Philander as their overseas player for the first two months of the 2012 season.

Philander, who is 26, has an impressive record in first class and one day cricket with both bat and ball.

The right arm paceman played in seven One Day Internationals in 2007-8 enjoying a batting average of 24.33 and claiming six wickets at just over 34 runs each.

However he shot to fame on his Test debut for South Africa against Australia at Cape Town last month.

Opening the attack, he claimed 3-63 off 21 overs in the first innings.

Philander followed this up by taking 5-15 in seven overs, three of which were maidens, to help bowl the Aussies out for 47.

In the second Test he claimed 5-70 in the Australian's second innings to bring his haul to 14 wickets at an average of 13.92 and win himself the Player of the Series Award.

With Alfonso Thomas missing at the start of next season through his involvement with the IPL, and Charl Willoughby departing to join Essex, the Cidermen appeared short in the bowling department.

So Philander looks like the ideal candidate to fill the gap.

In the first class game Philander has played in 71 matches in which he has scored 2,279 runs at an average of 27.13, with a best of 168, and taken 265 wickets at 19.72, with a best of 7-64.

Philander is no stranger to English conditions, having played twice for Devon in the C and G in 2004, which included a memorable victory over Leicestershire at Exmouth.

In 2008 he played in three championship games for Middlesex, in which he took ten wickets at an average of 27.70.

Director of cricket Brian Rose said: “Watching Vernon bowl at Cape Town against Australia recently I was immediately impressed by his ability and character in an especially demanding debut on his home ground.

“His all round ability will be a great asset in our side and I'm sure our supporters will be éngaged by his infectious personality.”

Philander's contract with Somerset is subject to availabilty due to his possible involvement with the IPL Twenty20.