VERN’S TIPS

SOUTH African icon Vernon Philander has dished out pearls of wisdom to the Proteas seam bowlers on what to expect at Lord’s next week.

The Proteas are gearing up for a daunting World Test Championship Final against Australia at the London venue that still holds a special place in the heart of the former all-rounder.

Philander took a memorable 5/30 in the second innings of the Proteas’ Test victory against England at Lord’s in 2012, securing his place on the Lord’s Honours Board.

The “Ravensmead Wrecker”, who took 224 Test wickets in a jitz career, also built up a solid knowledge base on the venue from his time in county cricket.

Philander wyses: “That new ball is going to be key. The Aussies are a team that want to get on the front foot as quickly as they possibly can, playing aggressive cricket. Whether it’s the new ball or slightly older ball, they’ll come hard at it.

“So it’s important that whoever is going to take the new ball in this once-off Test will have to start well.”

Philander adds: “If you have overcast conditions that ball will swing from ball one, so I think you want to fire up Kagiso Rabada. I think with the new ball he really sets the tone for the other guys to follow.

“I think if there’s a bit of swing on offer, perhaps you want to fire up Marco Jansen on the other side, because then you’ve got one bowler who will nip the ball away and the other will bring it back.”

The SA players will also have the chance to pick the brain of legendary former England pace bowler Stuart Broad, who will join the squad at Lord’s next Monday. 

He will be working as a consultant for the day to help the team with their preparations for the final which starts next Wednesday.