Vernon Philander downplays burnout fears as Proteas fine-tune T20 World Cup plans

Proteas cricket legend Vernon Philander has dismissed any fears that the SA players risk burning out at the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, with their exertions in the current SA20 followed by the West Indies series that ends just before the showpiece on the subcontinent kicks off.

The television analyst feels, rather, that the series against the visitors from the Caribbean, that starts at Boland Park in Paarl on January 27, should help crystallise coach Shukri Conrad’s strategy and final line-up for the World Cup.      

“At the moment guys are playing for different SA20 franchises, perhaps not in the positions the coach wants them to be playing in, so I think those T20 games against the West Indies will give Shukri Conrad a little bit of a clearer picture as to the final 11 that he wants to play and field in the World Cup. I think it’s needed, and it couldn’t come at a better time, right before the World Cup,” he said.

“Players will probably say they need a bit of a break after the SA20 but given the fact that it is international cricket and there is a World Cup at stake, from a coach and management’s point of view you want to know what players can produce in certain positions.”

The former seam-bowling star was speaking at an Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) watch party at Greyville Racecourse in Durban in the week where global football icon Michael Owen was unveiled as the latest Hollywoodbets ambassador.

The Proteas reached the final of the last T20 World Cup, where they fell to this year’s co-hosts, India. Philander feels that performance laid the foundations for another strong title push this year.

“I think we’ve got a relatively good chance, given the fact that we’ve made the final at the last T20 World Cup in the US. I think the guys will draw a lot of confidence coming out of that World Cup," he said.

"But you need a couple of things to go for you, with India obviously being a tough place to tour. But I just feel that unit is playing as a tightly knit unit and I do feel that will take you a lot further than individual stars, so hopefully the guys can gel well in the three T20s against the West Indies and take that into the World Cup."

The SA20 has reached the business end, with teams jockeying to join Paarl Royals and Sunrisers Eastern Cape in next week’s playoffs. The final will take place on Sunday next week, a few days before the West Indies series starts.

The T20 World Cup runs from February 7 to March 8, and the Proteas begin their tournament with a match against Canada on February 9 in Ahmedabad. The other teams in Pool D are Afghanistan, New Zealand and UAE.