“I think it will be important to find the right length early on and to use the new ball well to strike, even if it means going for a few runs,” said Philander.
“The ideal length in Sri Lanka might be a bit shorter than other surfaces.
Philander represented South Africa A in Sri Lanka before and knows the challenging conditions.
He says one of his greatest goals in the 2014-calendar year is to score a test century for South Africa.
But he also wants to produce good all-round performances away from home like he did in 2012 at Lord’s.
Who will forget his 5 for 30 in the second innings when he removed both openers, Alistair Cook and Andrew Strauss, with perfect deliveries that moved late back of the seam? And the superb ball to eventually accounted for the defiant and belligerent Matt Prior when the wicketkeeper/batsman threatened to win the game single-handedly for England?
Philander also hit an excellent 61 in the first innings and scored 35 in the second to underline his credentials as a fast-evolving allrounder.
“I wish to do the same this year, whether it is as No 7 or eight,” he adds.
