The Redbacks quick channeling Philander

South Australia bowling coach Rob Cassell has likened Test prospect Chadd Sayers with in-form South Africa paceman Vernon Philander.

Sayers is pushing his claims for higher honours after a red-hot start to the Sheffield Shield season, with the swing bowler collecting 17 wickets from his team’s opening two fixtures.

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The 29-year-old bagged six scalps in the Redbacks’ victory over Western Australia last month and backed that performance up by grabbing 11 wickets in a dominant performance against Tasmania.

Sayers boasts an average of 10.82 this summer after his career-best haul against the Tigers, with his 46-game first-class career netting 184 wickets at 23.8 apiece.

Cassell said Sayers had displayed the same relentless accuracy as Philander, who has 135 wickets from 35 Tests at 22.09 and claimed five victims in the Proteas’ victory over Australia in Perth.

“I think he’s a good comparison to Vernon Philander at the moment,” Cassell told cricket.com.au.

“They’re quite similar bowlers with their use of the crease and they bowl that immaculate line and length all the time.”

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While Australia’s selectors opted for Sayers’ teammate Joe Mennie in the squad for the first two matches of the Commonwealth Bank series against South Africa, Sayers is in the form of his life.

Mennie was described as a bolter in some quarters, but he did pocket 51 Sheffield Shield wickets – the most in the competition – in 2015-16 as South Australia progressed to the final.

Sayers, who made his first-class debut five years ago, enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2012-13, finishing with 48 wickets.

He returned 36 wickets the following season before he was limited to five Shield appearances in 2014-15 due to ankle surgery, before bouncing back last Shield season with 32 wickets in eight games – the reward for which was selection for Australia’s tour of New Zealand earlier this year.

In another sign that he remains firmly in the thoughts of the National Selection Panel, Sayers was also picked to play for Australia A against India A in Brisbane in September, capturing six wickets in the two first-class matches.

“It’s probably the only season I’ve had a full pre-season,” Sayers explained. “So I’m feeling fit and strong and pretty much over my ankle injury, touch wood.”

The right-armer has the ability to move the ball both ways, and late, which is proving too much for many Shield batsmen.

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And given his success at Adelaide Oval, Sayers could be in the frame for the third Test against South Africa, which starts on November 24.

South Australia’s next Shield fixture against Queensland at the Gabba, starting November 17, could prove critical.

“I think his best asset is he makes the batsmen play with the new ball all the time,” said Cassell, who is in his fifth season as South Australia’s bowling coach.

“His normal shape is away from the right-hander, but he can go across the lefties as well.

“His stats are unbelievable on what has been a pretty decent wicket (for batsmen) at Adelaide Oval the last couple of years.

“He’s been resilient over the last couple of years.

“He’s bowled a lot of overs on a flat wicket at Adelaide Oval and just keeps charging in.”

Sayers rarely pushes the speed gun much past the 130kph barrier, but his consistency has proved to be invaluable.

But Cassell said Mennie, who has six wickets to his name from two games, had also played a vital role in his teammate’s success.

“That will probably go unnoticed by most people around the country, but Joe did the grunt work at the other end (against Tasmania),” Cassell said.

“It’s hard to split them, to be honest, and I’d love to see them both in a Baggy Green in the near future.

“All they can do is make the selectors’ job as hard as possible and keep taking wickets for South Australia.

“Selectors are certainly noticing them and they’re getting closer (to national selection), that’s for sure.”

Former South Australia and Victoria wicketkeeper and Redbacks coach Darren Berry is also in Sayers’ corner, suggesting via Twitter that a debut in Adelaide “must happen”.

While Sayers said Adelaide Oval was “one of my best grounds to bowl at”, he is taking the added attention in his stride.

“It’s obviously great to have some support around and blokes backing you from the hill, but I will keep doing my stuff,” he said.

“Last year Joe got some of the wickets and maybe me and (Dan) Worrall missed out a bit but it doesn’t matter as long we as we are winning matches.”