Vernon Philander’s ankle injury could sideline him from cricket until at least November.

According to ESPN Cricinfo, the Proteas seamer has begun his rehabilitation and is aiming to still make a case for World Cup selection.

The 33-year-old has struggled with an ankle injury ever since he twisted it against India in 2015 and although it won’t affect his Test career, it might affect his chance of making the ODI side.

With the Zimbabwe ODI series around the corner, Philander was aiming to get some game time alongside a returning Dale Steyn, who also found himself out of ODI contention after a string of injuries.

This injury will also rule Philander out of a white-ball trip to Australia in October-November but he is likely to be available for CSA’s T20 tournament. But internationally, Philander could only realistically be available for the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan.

Philander last played for South Africa in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, where his injury returned and he has been out of action since.

Surgery is an option, but CSA opted against it.

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