Johannesburg, June 7 : Proteas seamer Vernon Philander has been named South African Cricketer of the Year following a sensational entry into Test cricket during the 2011-12 season.
Philander, 26, took 51 wickets in seven Tests at an average of 14.15 and also topped South Africa''s bowling averages in all three Test series in which he played - against Australia, Sri Lanka and New Zealand.
The Cape Cobras bowler was mainly responsible for bowling out Australia for 47 in his debut Test in Cape Town last November, taking five for 15.
Philander, who also won the Test Cricketer and Fans’ Cricketer of the Year awards, proved the ideal foil to Dale Steyn, the world''s No 1 ranked fast bowler, bowling a tight line at a lively pace and making the ball move in both directions through the air and off the seam.
According to Sports24, AB de Villiers was named One-day International Cricketer of the Year after scoring 475 runs at an average of 158.33 with a strike rate of 116.13 in his first season as South Africa''s limited-overs captain.
Hard-hitting opening batsman Richard Levi collected the Twenty20 player of the year award for his innings of 117 not out off 51 balls against New Zealand in Hamilton.
© ANI
