00001Vernon Philander has closed the gap on countryman Dale Steyn as the pair retained the top two spots in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test rankings for bowlers in the latest global ratings list released on Monday.

Philander picked up remarkable figures of 5-7 in New Zealand’s first innings in Cape Town, and his match return of 7-83 saw him climb within 17 ratings points of Steyn, who retained the No 1 position.

Fellow speedster Morne Morkel also remained in the top 10, holding eighth place.

Meanwhile, Proteas opener Alviro Petersen has broken into the top 20 of the rankings for Test batsmen for the first time in his career.

Petersen, who made 106 runs to pave the way in a crushing defeat of New Zealand in Cape Town last week, rose 11 places to 20th.

Hashim Amla remained South Africa’s highest-ranked Test batsman, retaining third position behind Australian Michael Clarke and West Indian Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

Jacques Kallis, in sixth, and AB de Villiers, in seventh, held onto their places in the top 10.

Kallis clung to the No 1 position among all-rounders, 12 points clear of Shakib Al Hasan of Bangladesh.

South Africa are five points clear of England at the top of the ICC Test Championship table.

The Proteas face New Zealand, who are ranked eighth, in the second and final Test in Port Elizabeth, which starts on Friday.

6 Responses to Cricket: Philander closes gap on Steyn

  • 1

    Wagner knows what it’s like to let chances go begging. When he lived in South Africa he was given limited time with the Titans franchise and because he was competing with the likes of Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Andre Nel, when he didn’t set the world alight, he was discarded. “It was tough team to break into. I wouldn’t say I grabbed my chances at the Titans that well. You’ve got to grab every opportunity that comes your way.”

    If he plays at St George’s Park, Wagner will join the likes of Kevin Pietersen and Kruger van Wyk as players born and schooled in South Africa who go on to play international cricket elsewhere. For the South African side, it will be nothing new even though Wagner had AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis as classmates at the Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies).

    Wagner and du Plessis remained friends since and would catch up when they played club cricket in England. Now, they will meet on opposite sides having had contrasting fortunes in Test cricket. While Wagner’s career has stalled, du Plessis took off in Australia but Wagner holds no hard feelings. “It’s awesome for Faf to do that well and make that step. I know he has also had his trouble in the past with taking his opportunity,” Wagner said. “I’ve always enjoyed playing my cricket with him; it’s just going to be a different thing playing against him.”

    It will probably be different for Du Plessis as well as Wagner suspects he may know the extent of which Wagner has changed. He claims that he is no longer as hot-headed as was at Affies because New Zealand has turned him into a mellower and also more thinking cricketer. “At Affies, I found that they tried to grow people up real tough and to be hard. There’s no room to be soft.

    “The Kiwi lifestyle is a lot more relaxed and chilled; it’s less aggressive. Guys at Affies hate losing and when they lost they did not accept it at all. New Zealand is calmer. I learnt how to control my emotions more and accept that on the days when it didn’t go well there’s nothing you can do except learn from it and become better.”

  • 2

    @ superBul:
    When Neil Wagner was growing up, he looked forward to the day he would be able to rattle international batsmen. He may not have thought about which batsmen specifically but few schoolboys do.

    Yesterday, he was required to target the New Zealand line-up. Yes, New Zealand. His adopted country.

  • 3

    The teams of the year

    The Test XIs of 2012, as picked by ESPNcricinfo staff

    Test XI

    Alastair Cook: 1249 runs at 48.03
    The first name on everyone’s team sheet. The second-highest run-scorer of 2012, behind Michael Clarke. Cook took over the captaincy full time after Andrew Strauss retired following the home series against South Africa. Three of Cook’s four centuries came in India, where his batting was the cornerstone of England’s series win. His 176 in Ahmedabad couldn’t save the game, but his next two tons were in winning causes, and he became the first England captain to win a Test series in India since David Gower in 1984-85.

    Graeme Smith, 825 runs at 48.52
    Smith had the distinction of leading South Africa to No. 1 in the Test rankings, and his side had series wins in New Zealand, England and Australia in 2012. He didn’t have a bad year as a batsman either, scoring 131 in the innings win at The Oval and top-scoring with 122 in the first innings in Adelaide.

    Hashim Amla, 1064 runs at 70.93
    With four centuries, including a triple-hundred, Amla was in sublime form, and finished third on the run-charts. His 311 at The Oval deflated England at the start of the Test series and was a symbol of South Africa’s dominance. He returned to haunt England with 121 at Lord’s. Amla started the Australia tour with a century in Brisbane, and finished it with 196 in Perth – an innings that helped take the game and series away from Australia, and in the course of which he nearly scored 100 runs in a session.

    Michael Clarke, 1595 runs at 106.33
    The leading run scorer in 2012, with an astonishing three double-centuries and a triple-hundred. Clarke launched the year with an unbeaten 329 against India in Sydney, followed it up with 210 in Adelaide, scored back-to-back double-centuries against South Africa, and rounded off the year with 106 against Sri Lanka in Melbourne. In the process he broke the Australian record for the most runs in a calendar year.

    Kevin Pietersen, 1053 runs at 43.87
    It would be hard to sum up Pietersen’s 2012 in 140 characters. After an audacious 149 against South Africa at Headingley – one of the best innings of the year – he announced a shock retirement from international cricket when he was dropped for the next Test over text messages he allegedly sent to South African players. After a reconciliation, he was included for the Test tour of India, where his presence was pivotal to his team’s success. His 186 in Mumbai was the turning point of the series; its impact was similar to that of his 151 against Sri Lanka in Colombo in April, which helped England square the Test series.

    Marlon Samuels, 866 runs at 86.60
    Samuels likes to remind everyone of the two years he missed due to match-fixing allegations. He seemed determined to make up for lost time in 2012, establishing himself as one of West Indies’ best batsmen. He scored 386 runs in five innings in England and followed it up with a century against New Zealand and a double-century (his highest Test score, 260) against Bangladesh. He said after the World Twenty20 final that Test cricket was his No. 1 priority.

    Matt Prior, 777 runs at 38.85, 29 catches and seven stumpings
    Possibly the most dependable wicketkeeper-batsman in world cricket. His 36 dismissals in 2012 were the most by a wicketkeeper in the year. Prior struggled for consistency with the bat at the start of the year but made up for it with fifties in all three Tests against South Africa and 258 runs against India.

    Vernon Philander, 43 wickets at 21.11
    He may not have the pace of Dale Steyn or Morne Morkel, but Philander has the accuracy, swing and the discipline with which to nip out wickets in helpful conditions. After his dream start to Test cricket at the end of 2011, Philander took his good form to New Zealand, where he picked up 21 wickets in three Tests. He wasn’t as consistent in England, till the final Test at Lord’s, where his 5 for 30 in the second innings helped South Africa seal the series. And he was rather unlucky to walk away empty- handed at the ICC Awards.

    Saeed Ajmal, 39 wickets at 20.56
    Ajmal edged Rangana Herath out for the specialist spinner’s spot in the XI. He spun England out in the UAE, with 24 wickets in three Tests, helping Pakistan sweep the series. He took 15 in the three Tests in Sri Lanka but was let down on occasion by poor umpiring. His bosses and fans cried foul when he failed to make the shortlist for the ICC Test player of the year.

    James Anderson, 48 wickets at 29.50
    One of the best new-ball bowlers in the world, Anderson only took one five-for (5 for 72) in 2012, but he was consistent for England through the year – and nowhere was it more apparent than on the tour of India, where he took ten wickets in the last two Tests and was the best fast bowler on both sides.

    Dale Steyn, 39 wickets at 29.71
    He may have been overshadowed by Philander, but Steyn was just as effective in 2012, spearheading South Africa’s seam attack. Two performances stood out. The first was his five-for at The Oval that led to England’s collapse in the second innings. The second was his match haul of seven in Perth, which put Australia on the back foot. Steyn mostly bowled within himself and saved the top-drawer swing and speed for when the team needed them the most.

  • 4

    @ superBul:
    a comment i totally agree with

    “No way you can exclude Kallis in Test Team. Hands down the first player you pencil in. He should be there instead of Petiersen and bat at 4 with Clarke at 5. Would also have Hussey in there at 6 insteaad of Samuals. Understand this is for 2012 I am sure both Kallis & Hussey average and runs in this period are superior too. Also one needs to see where the runs we’re scored and who the opposition was. I would also consider Chanderpaul above Pietersen/Samuals in Test team. IMHO AB de Villiers is a better batter than Prior”

  • 5

    4 @ superBul:
    But AB wasn’t a better batter in 2012. It’s time to move AB back to a specialised batsmen and let young Quinton de Kock get a chance.

    The kid is a specialist keeper and a more than adequate batsman.

    SA can’t afford to have AB only firing 50% of the time with the bat.

    FFS, he’s just cried off playing with the excuse he’s “tired”. If that’s what keeping does for him, then take the gloves away.

  • 6

    Proteas seamer Vernon Philander will miss the second Test against New Zealand due to a recurring left hamstring injury.

    Philander experienced tightness on the final day of the first Test match at Newlands, when foot holes caused his front foot to slip while bowling.

    Proteas team manager, Dr Mohammed Moosajee said: “Vernon’s hamstring strain will require a seven to 10 day recovery period at the very least. Although he is responding to treatment received over the past few days, we feel it’s unlikely that he’ll recover in time for this week’s Test match in Port Elizabeth. Besides, with the Pakistan series less than a month away, it’s not worth the risk of aggravating the injury ”

    Rory Kleinveldt will earn his third Test cap for the Proteas in the match starting on Friday, January 11 at St Georges in Port Elizabeth.

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