It's a special group

Vernon Philander arrived in New Zealand as an unknown quantity. Yes, they all knew about his bowling heroics at home against Australia and Sri Lanka, but this would be his first tour as a test cricketer.

The Kiwis were familiar with his fellow quicks, Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, but the man they subsequently dubbed "the new Glenn McGrath" was a stranger. No longer.

Philander left New Zealand on Tuesday as the fastest-rising bowler in test cricket - now No9 on the world rankings.

On Monday at the Basin Reserve in Wellington he became the first bowler in over 100 years to get to 50 test wickets in seven matches.

As an international player, Philander has been around since June 2007, when South African selectors believed he had the makings of an allrounder in the Brian McMillan mould. It was a bit early for any such thoughts and he also had to wait in the bowling queue, as men like Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini, Dale Steyn, Charl Langeveldt, Morne Morkel and even Johan van der Wath were used ahead of him.

He lasted only 15 limited-overs matches before being declared "not quite ready". His batting was weak, as was his fielding - and his bowling ordinary. He had to wait another two years for his next chance.

In between an ODI against England at Lord's, where he made 10, got to bowl only four overs and went wicketless for 30 runs in a comprehensive English victory and his test debut last November, Philander honed his game through hard work at first-class level. Now he's a sensation.

New coach Gary Kirsten had to choose between Philander and Lonwabo Tsotsobe for the first test against Australia this summer. The case for Philander was just too strong: evidence in the Supersport series was overwhelming. He had taken a bunch of wickets at less than 20 over the two years in exile from international cricket.

Like McGrath and Shaun Pollock, he bowls close to the wicket, which gives him accuracy. He revealed himself to be a bowler who makes the batsmen play at virtually every delivery. Even when pitches were not juicy, he still performed at a brisk pace, swinging the ball both ways with the ability to seam it off the pitch. Until last Tuesday, when he failed to take a wicket in an innings, he has overshadowed Steyn and Morkel in the South African attack.

Indeed, the trio of South African fast bowlers made sure of the test series victory in New Zealand despite some batting shortcomings. Of the 47 wickets taken by South Africa in the three tests, 40 came from these three.

Philander snared 21 wickets at just 15.47.

"If things go for you, make sure you keep doing it," Philander said just before departure. That's what I'm doing.

"Obviously bowling form is on my side. Hopefully I can extend this run for as long as possible."

Steyn, who is the No1 bowler in the world, struggled a bit with injury but then got better and better. He was magnificent in South Africa's nine-wicket win in the second test, taking 5/80 off 34 overs. He was occasionally let down in the field, especially by JP Duminy in the last test when the usually reliable little man dropped three catches.

Morkel was rewarded on the last day of the series, taking six wickets - the only ones to fall in the innings. His 6/23 from 17 overs is his best test analysis.

They are a special bunch - and not only the trio of fearsome pace bowlers.