South Africa all-rounder Vernon Philander has admitted that the team "had a few hard chats" following their 239-run defeat against England in the third Test played at The Oval which left them trail 1-2 in the four-match series. Spinner Moeen Ali scalped a hat-trick as England wrapped up a huge win Proteas on the fifth day of the Oval Test to take an unassailable 2-1 lead series.
"We've got an honesty policy within the side and we all admitted it wasn't our best Test match," the Guardian quoted Philander, who endured a stomach complaint throughout the Test, as saying.
"We let ourselves down with the bat in the first innings, so we're looking forward to correcting those mistakes in this one and hoping to level the series," he added.
The pacer, who has 10 wickets in the series, spent the second night of the Oval Test in hospital on a drip and was unable to bowl as he had to make back time he had spent off the pitch ill.
The 32-year-old believes his absences were a factor in Proteas' defeat.
"I'm obviously quite an important part of the lineup. Bowling at 70% or 80% I could feel that my intensity was missed. If you can't go at 100% and the conditions are suited for you as well, it was really frustrating that I couldn't be out there and bowl longer spells," he said.
He, however, added that now he was feeling a lot better and is all set to have a crack at the English batsmen in the final Test at the Old Trafford beginning Friday.
"It was a tough week personally. Being on the loo for quite a bit and having to go out to bowl was draining. I couldn't really keep anything down but I'm feeling a lot better now," he said.
