Philander declared match fit for Trent Bridge Test

South Africa have received a major boost with pacer Vernon Philander being declared fit for the second Test of the four-match series against England, beginning Friday at Trent Bridge.

Doubts over the 32-year-old's availability for the rest of the second Test surfaced after he sustained injuries to his bowling hand while batting in the first innings of his side's 211-run loss to England at Lord's last week.

Philander was struck on the right hand by England's James Anderson with the 12th ball he faced and before he had scored a run.

After receiving medical attention‚ Philander batted through the discomfort to score a vital 52 runs, but went to hospital for an x-ray at the end of South Africa's innings.

However, the scans have now revealed that there was no fracture, Sport24 reported.

Meanwhile, Duanne Olivier, Chris Morris and Andile Phehlukwayo are in line to replace Rabada, who was sanctioned by the International Cricket Council ( ICC) for giving Ben Stokes a send-off in the Lord's Test.

-ANI