Vernon Philander previews this week's South Africa/ Australia and India/ Pakistan Cricket World Cup encounters.
Vernon on SA v Australia:
“Wow, this is going to be an awfully close contest. I do feel SA still have the edge over Australia, especially with that strong batting lineup striking format at the right time.
“Perhaps [it’s] a different challenge with Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins coming in for Australia, two really fine strike bowlers – that could be the only test for South Africa. When you’re up against the best sides, you want to be playing their best bowlers and get a feel for what it is to be playing under those big pressure situations.
“For me the strength for Australia is their bowling attack and the strength for South Africa is definitely our batting lineup. So I do feel that the momentum and the performances the guys have under their belt does give us the edge over Australia.
If we can get runs on the board and put them under pressure from a scoreboard point pf view, we should be in good stead.”
Vernon on India v Pakistan:
“This is the pinnacle when you talk world cricket: India/ Pakistan. Me having personally been apart of the Pakistan outfit in the 2021 Cricket World Cup in Dubai, I don’t think you get a bigger match on the cricketing calendar.
“I hate to pick a winner. Both teams possess wonderful batting lineups, amazing strike bowlers, but one just has to feel that, India playing in India, they will have the edge on Pakistan in terms of having the support, etc.
“But it’s going to be awfully close. I’m going to be a little bit biased here, I’m going to go with the two green teams, green and gold, to take it home this week. So I’m going to go with Pakistan and South Africa.”
