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Cape Town - Proteas all-rounder Vernon Philander has become one of the most valuable assets to South Africa's turnaround in the Test series in England.
The Proteas were outplayed in the first Test at Lord's as they fell to a heavy 211-run loss.
However, Philander's man-of-the-match performance saw the Proteas bounce back emphatically at Trent Bridge with bat and ball.
The Proteas went on to win the second Test at Trent Bridge by 340 runs to square their four-match Test series at 1-1.
Philander scored 54 and 42 with the bat and grabbed five wickets including taking 3/24 as the Proteas bundled out England to 133 in their second innings.
His performance also saw Philander elevated to No 9 on the ICC Test bowling rankings.
Proteas bowling coach Charl Langeveldt was full of praise for the 32-year-old all-rounder and was delighted with his performance in Nottingham.
"Vern is always ready. When we need to go to a guy and say that we need to bring the run-rate down and we need someone to hold up the end - he is the guy that normally steps up for me," Langeveldt told reporters in London on Monday.
"In that sense, people don't realise his value (to the team).
"In the bowling attack where we need two strike bowlers with an option of a third one - he holds us together."
The third Test between England and South Africa gets underway on Thursday, July 27 at 12:00 SA time.
