Philander Suffers Ankle Ligament Damage During Football Game

South Africa paceman Vernon Philander is facing a race against time to be fit for the series against England after an 'unlucky' ankle injury suffered on Thursday in India.
Philander was ruled out of the rest of the series against India and could be out for at least six weeks, after he rolled over his left ankle during a team football exercise at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru - scans later revealed ligament damage.
While South Africa have called up Kyle Abbott as a replacement for the second Test against India, which starts on Saturday, Philander will now fly home and attempt a recovery in time for the visit of England.
South Africa's Vernon Philander, pictured in action against India, has been ruled out for up to six weeks
Philander damaged ligaments in his left ankle during a team football exercise at the Chinnaswamy Stadium
The Three Lions begin the four-match Test series against South Africa in Durban on Boxing Day, with Proteas team manager Dr Mohammed Moosajee saying: 'At this moment it is still too early to tell but he will be out for a period of at least six to eight weeks.
'The first Test match against England is six weeks away so it will be a tight schedule to get him ready and rehabilitated to make that Test match.
'Once he has been assessed back home in Cape Town and a proper programme for physio and rehabilitation has been put into place we will have a clearer understanding.'
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With Dale Steyn himself facing a late fitness check for the Bengaluru Test, much would have been expected of Philander, who took three wickets in South Africa's defeat inside three days in the first encounter at Mohali.
Team-mate AB de Villiers was quoted by website as saying: 'Vernon stepped on Dean's (Elgar) foot by accident in our warm-up.

Very freakish accident, to be honest. He is very unlucky.'
De Villiers is set to play the 100th Test of his career, and is one of only a few players to do so while top of the world five-day rankings.
South Africa star AB de Villiers bet in the nets during a training session ahead of their second Test with India
De Villiers, pictured during the first Test, is due to make his 100th Test appearance against India this week
The swashbuckling batsman, who debuted against England in 2004 and is South Africa's third-highest run scorer in Tests, will play the landmark match at his Indian Premier League home ground, being contracted with the Royal Challengers Bangalore.
'I've never been too sentimental about those things, %https://soulofcricketer.blogspot.com/2020/06/indian-cricketer-stuart-binny-wife.html% I don't care where I play my 100th,' De Villiers said.
'I didn't mind where I played my 50th and I won't mind where I play any of my Test matches.

Representing my country is a great honour but the fact that it worked out for me to play in Bangalore is really special for me.
'I love coming here during the IPL (Indian Premier League) but being here with South Africa for my 100th Test is special.'
Meanwhile, hosts India could give all-rounder Gurkeerat Singh Mann a Test debut after calling him up to the squad.
India had last week released the trio of batsman Rohit Sharma, paceman Bhuvneshwar Kumar and all-rounder Stuart Binny, paving the way for Punjab cricketer Mann - who counts an unbeaten double century among his recent domestic performances.