Philander out of India series and doubtful for England

The South African has been the world’s No. 1 batsman and has been successful in all formats of the game.

While Abbott will be keen to impress in what could be his first Test since December 2014, Philander’s injury will be a fresh blow to South Africa’s efforts at levelling the four-match Test series, the visitors having lost the first encounter at Mohali inside three days.

India won the first Test in Mohali with two days to spare, with neither side scoring more than 201 runs on a pitch that spun from the first.

“Both teams struggled against spin and looked foolish at times playing spin”.

Due to India’s haphazard Test schedule‚ Test matches are hardly scheduled during festivals or holidays.

Terming Gurkeerat Singh Mann as a potentialall-rounder for India, Test captain Virat Kohli on Friday said that the latest addition is certainly in the scheme of things for the ongoing Test series against South Africa. “I have been very lucky to make my debut at the same time as him and we have been on this journey together for all these years”.

“Hopefully in this Test match we will find the rhythm and have more endurance than the opposition”. “I’m pretty happy with where I’m at, it’s a new Test starting on Saturday and I’m really looking forward to it”. I don’t mind doing things like that, whatever it takes to win games of cricket. “I don’t care where I play my 100th Test. But I have to add that playing in Bangalore is really special for me”. “I didn’t mind where I played my 50th and I won’t mind where I play any of my Test matches”.

India last played a Test here against New Zealand in 2012 and one against Australia in 2010.

The Proteas play host to Alastair Cook’s England in Cape Town on Boxing Day and team manager Dr Mohammed Moosajee has conceded that the 30-year-old now has a “tight schedule” to get himself fit.

– De Villiers played a world record 78 innings in Test cricket before making his first duck (v Bangladesh at Centurion in 2008).

South Africa: Dean Elgar, Stiaan van Zyl, Faf du Plessis, Hashim Amla (capt), AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Dane Vilas (wk), Simon Harmer, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir, Kagiso Rabada, Temba Bavuma, Kyle Abbott, Dane Piedt. I was back in form.

“I read a part in a book where a few of the All Black players said it’s not about the individual, but it’s about leaving the jersey in a better place for those who will come and represent the country after you”, he said. If South Africa can find the depths of reserve to hold the home side off – or even pull the rug from under their feet – they will keep their dream of a series triumph alive.

The Delhi left-hander’s sequence of scores from the start of the T20 series has been 3, 11, 23, 23, 13, 7, 60, 0, 0.