Not so long ago, Vernon Philander, the burly Cape Cobras all-rounder, was hailed as the next Jacques Kallis-in-the-making.
Not so long ago, Vernon Philander, the burly Cape Cobras all-rounder, was hailed as the next Jacques Kallis-in-the-making.
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Cape Cobras all-rounder Vernon Philander in Hyderabad. PIC/SURESH KK |
But after making his debut for South Africa on his 22nd birthday, Philander could not cope with the pressure of
the game at the highest level and didn't even feature in the Proteas' 30 probables for the last month's World Twenty20.
"When you get labelled as the next Kallis, it makes life a bit more difficult. But I am Vernon Philander, and that's what I want to be," the 24-year-old told MiD DAY.
"Sometimes, it's easier to say this than live it. I mean over this last year, I have taken a step backwards and told myself I am going to stay where I am.
"Once you start looking at big players and try to play like them, you can actually end up missing the boat by a margin. So it's better to play the way you are."
Philander, whose last international appearance was in an ODI against England at Lord's last August, was candid in admitting he was pushed to the highest level earlier than he should have been.
"After rising as quickly as I did, I also had a dip. But it's been a learning curve for me and there's still a better future ahead of me," Philander said.
Does life get more difficult after such a rise and a sharper descend? "I wouldn't say it's difficult to bounce back.
But you want to get all your credentials in place. So when you do get up there, you stay there longer," Philander said.
"The same thing happened to JP Duminy. He was young, he had a dip and he made it back up. As far as I am concerned, I am focussed on getting back there. I need to keep myself calm and composed."
Interestingly, Philander idolises three cricketers Kallis, whom he played against in the opener of the Champions League Twenty20; Herschelle Gibbs, who is his teammate in the tournament; and Adam Gilchrist, who he hopes to face later in the tournament.
