Philander return ‘according to contract’
by Neil Manthorp 22 May 2012, 18:17
Vernon Philander’s return to South Africa in two days' time is “exactly according to his contract” according to national team manager Mohammed Moosajee, despite some apparent unhappiness with his English employer for the last six weeks, Somerset County Cricket Club.
Somerset are playing against Durham in the only county championship match this week running from Tuesday 22nd to Friday 25th. The county asked CSA’s permission to extend Philander’s contract by one day so that he could play in the game but were denied.
“Vernon’s contract always stated that he would finish on May 24th allowing him six weeks of physical rest and rehabilitation before we leave for the Proteas tour of England,” Moosajee said.
Somerset made the request several weeks ago when the cut-off point for his contract was seen to be on the third day of a match but Moosajee, who also sits on CSA’s medical committee, gave no guarantees: “I said we would monitor Vernon’s workload and make a decision nearer the time.
“But because he played three matches in a row before this one we decided to keep to the contract which guarantees six weeks of recovery,” Moosajee said.
On the subject of Somerset’s rumoured unhappiness, Moosajee was philosophical: “I’ve had a very honest and good relationship with the director of cricket, Brian Rose, and he has absolutely no problems with our decision – he understands fully.
"But I wouldn’t be surprised if the captain and coach are disappointed, they always want the overseas professional to play as much as possible.”
