Would Have Considered Playing Longer if not for CSA Administration Chaos: Philander

Vernon Philander revealed that the recent issues with the Cricket South Africa administration, before Grame Smith took on as acting director of cricket, played a part in him retiring early from international cricket.

Philander played his last game for South Africa in the fourth Test against England recently and is set to feature for Somerset as a kolpak player.

Philander said the ‘chaos’ in the administration in recent months led to him taking a call on his future.

“As a player you get to the point where you’ve had enough,” he told Afrikaans weekly Rapport. “Cricket SA’s previous administration only looked after themselves; the players were the last people they worried about. Too many things went wrong and I had to decide what was the best way forward for me. I am 34 and have a good career behind me, but I would have considered playing longer if it wasn’t for the chaos in our cricket administration.”

Philander also opened up on the 2015 World Cup semifinal saga against New Zealand, where he replaced an in-form Kyle Abbott due to South Africa’s transformation policy. The former pacer blamed South Africa’s administration for mismanaging the issue, stressing he had no problems with Abbott.

“It’s difficult for me to look back on that,” he said. “I blatantly and openly told the coach that the best player must play. He told me, ‘you’re the best man for the day, you play’. But they were clearly not open and honest with me and Kyle. There were things happening behind closed doors.

“When I go to Durban, I have a beer with Kyle. There are no hard feelings between us two. But the point is: Cricket SA must sort out their stuff. What happened was a knock to both of us.”

Philander hoped the new management, under Smith, would help turn things around for the country.

“Hopefully we will see a turnaround in the administration and on the playing field,” he said. “We must put out heads together and decide which direction we are going in. Hopefully we can make the path for younger players better.

“In successful teams like Australia, England and India, former players are involved but in South Africa, we lost our former players to other countries where they do coaching because the money is much better,. We have to decide what we are willing to pay to keep former players in the country and ensure that our cricket goes forward again.”