The young fast bowling sensation, Vernon Philander, has won the South African cricketer of the year award for his outstanding performance in his limited Test career.

Vernon Philander earned the distinction for his wonderful bowling execution for the Proteas in Test cricket during 2011-12.

Vernon Darryl Philander was born on June 24, 1985, in Belville, South Africa, a right arm genuine fast bowler and right hand batsman. He has played for South Africa, South Africa Under-19s, Middlesex, South Africa A, Cape Cobras, Western Province Boland, Devon, Western Province Under-19s, Somerset and Western Province.

The lanky fast bowler was playing excellently on the domestic circuit before he came in the limelight and was picked up by the national selectors. He is an emerging all rounder who has the ability to deliver the ball with speed and accuracy while swinging it both ways and can bat well lower in the order.

The 26-year-old made his debut in Test cricket against Australia on November 9, 2011, at Newlands, Cape Town. The Kangaroos lost the match by a huge margin of 8 wickets, Philander grabbed eight wickets in his first appearance and was declared ‘Player of the match.

He is among the following  three fastest 50 wickets taking bowlers in the history of the longer version of the game.

1-    Charlie Turner (Australia) in his 6th Test vs. England on August 30, 1888 at Old Trafford, Manchester.

2-    Tom Richardson (England) in his 7th Test vs. Australia on June 22, 1896 at Lord’s, London.

3-    Vernon Philander (South Africa) in his 7th Test vs. New Zealand on March 23, 2012 at Basin Reserve, Wellington.

Vernon Philander has played 7 Tests, grasped 51 wickets at an awesome average of 14.15 runs per wicket with the best of 6-44 in an innings and 10-102 in a match. He has grabbed five wickets in an innings six times and 10 wickets in a match twice. We will highlight his performance in all seven Test matches he has played so far as follows :

1^st match vs. Australia

The first Test was played at Newlands, Cape Town, on November 9, 10 and 1, 2011.

First innings        –  3 wickets.

Second innings    –  5 wickets.

Philander was declared ‘Player of the match’.

2^nd match vs. Australia

The second Test was held on November 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21, 2011, at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg.

First innings         –  1 wicket.

Second innings     –  5 wickets.

3^rd match vs. Sri Lanka

The first Test took place at SuperSport Park, Centurion, on December 15, 16 and 17, 2011.

First innings      –  5 wickets.

Second innings  –  5 wickets.

Philander was declared ‘Player of the match’.

4^th match vs. Sri Lanka

The third Test was played on January 3, 4, 5 and 6, 2012, at Newlands, Cape Town.

First innings       –  3 wickets.

Second innings  –  3 wickets.

5^th match vs. New Zealand

The first Test was held on March 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, 2012, at University Oval, Dunedin.

First innings       –  4 wickets.

Second innings   –  1 wicket.

6^th match vs. New Zealand

The second Test took place at Seddon Park, Hamilton, on March 15, 16 and 17, 2012.

First innings       –  4 wickets.

Second innings   –  6 wickets.

Philander was declared ‘Player of the match’.

7^th match vs. New Zealand

The third and final Test was played on March 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27, 2012, at Basin Reserve, Wellington.

First innings      –  6 wickets.

Second innings  –  0 wicket.

Vernon Philander has made an impact by his thunderous bowling at the initial stages of his career, he rightly deserved the ‘Test cricketer of the year’ award of South Africa and there is still a lot to come from him.