Does SA have a new Shaun Pollock?

Vernon Philander is certain to be called up for the Proteas T20 world championship squad when the national selectors name their elite group later this week.

The 22-year-old Ravensmead all-rounder, who was recently capped at ODI level on the tour of Ireland when several senior players including Shaun Pollock were either rested or injured, has been the star of the show for the SA Emerging Players team in Australia where they won the final against New Zealand A in Brisbane on Saturday.

Philander made a quick half-century and then took three wickets to put an instant brake on the New Zealand reply and give the South African side a comfortable victory by 82 runs.

Philander's Cape Cobras team mate, JP Duminy, also had an excellent tournament and was the other player to make a half-century in the final.

When coach Kepler Wessels returns to South Africa this week, he will undoubtedly report that Philander and Duminy are two of the players who are knocking hard on the doors of the Protea selection room.

Others who impressed on the tour included Titans fast bowler Morne Morkel, Lions opening batsman Alviro Petersen and Warriors all-rounder Johan Botha.

But Philander is the one who will go straight into the first-choice Proteas squad without further ado. He is set to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Pollock and Jacques Kallis as a quality all-rounder.