Philander to hook up with Somerset

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Vernon Philander traps Ricky Ponting in front for nought en route to 5-15 on Test debut as Australia were all out for 47 at Cape Town

Somerset have reached an agreement with South Africa seamer Vernon Philander for him to be their overseas player for the first two months of next season.

The 26-year-old first represented his country during 2007 in limited-overs cricket and last month made his Test bow, taking 14 wickets in the two-match series with Australia including 5-15 on debut.

Philander, who won his third Test cap today versus Sri Lanka at Centurion, is set to play for Somerset in April and May subject to his availability which will be compromised if he earns an Indian Premier League contract.

Following Philander’s intended spell, countryman Roelof van der Merwe is set to return to Taunton for the remainder of the season and West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard for the Friends Life t20.

Philander, who represented Middlesex in 2008, has 265 wickets in 71 first-class matches at 19.72, a form in which he boasts a healthy batting average of 27.13 having hit two hundreds and six fifties. While his limited-overs bowling record is not so impressive, his List A and Twenty20 batting averages are similar to his first-class one.

Somerset director of cricket Brian Rose said: "Watching Vernon bowl in Cape Town against Australia recently I was immediately impressed by his ability and character in an especially demanding debut on his home ground."

Rose added: "His all-round ability will be a great asset in our side and I'm sure our supporters will be engaged by his infectious personality."

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