Philander: I have the recipe

Cape Town – While most of the cricket world were thoroughly impressed by his debut Test series showing at home, Vernon Philander may be the only one not not surprised by his performance.

Philander turned in a Man-of-the-Series showing in his first two Tests, at his home ground Newlands and at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.

However, Philander said by cracking his first Test nod, a weight was felt on his shoulders.

“Naturally there was more pressure on me, because there are much higher expectations when you play at this level,” Philander said in Wednesday’s Die Burger.

Despite this, he says that his naturally ability helped him overcome the nerves and that he was suited to the conditions.

“However, I knew that I would fare well, because my strength is to dismiss batsmen with bounce and my movement off the seam as well as through the air, which was the right sort of bowling required in this series.”

He believes his skills are not only suited to the local conditions, but that he can continue to be successful all around the world.

“I think that this recipe will work all over the world, because good bowling areas remain the same – regardless of what sort of pitch you are playing on.”

Philander, who is gentle in pace when compared to fellow pacemen, Dale Steyn and Morné Morkel, showed the same, if not more aggression than his compatriots throughout the series.

After he dismissed Australian captain, Michael Clarke in their second innings at the Wanderers, Philander stood in an almost Flintoff-like pose in the middle of pitch, something which Philander admits was premeditated.

“I am a competitive player by nature and it is part of my job as a fast bowler to be aggressive.

“The night before (the fifth day), a friend of mine asked me to imitate Flintoff the next time I take a wicket – and I thought: Why not?”