Proteas face selection poser

[caption id="attachment_70214" align="alignright" width="215"] VERNON PHILANDER -[/caption]

Injury to Philander means SA will have to rejig team for Windies clash

SOUTH Africa will ease many concerns if they beat West Indies in their World Cup clash at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Friday, but they will have to do so without Vernon Philander.

The fast bowler has been ruled out with a strained hamstring and he could also miss the game against Ireland in Canberra on Tuesday.

“The Ireland match is eight days away,” SA team manager Mohammed Moosajee said yesterday. “With the recovery period being a week to 10 days, we have to give him every opportunity to make sure he can be available.

“At the same time, we don’t want to be foolish by taking shortcuts. We will go through the usual treatment protocols.

“If he passes all the fitness tests and is symptom-free going into the Ireland game he may play, but at this stage it is too early to tell.”

SA should have the beating of West Indies and Ireland with or without Philander. But they will need to take a long look at the balance of their team.

Philander bowled just four overs against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday before he limped off, and the impact of his absence was writ large on the scoreboard at the end of the innings.