Phillips feeling good
Latest SA export says he prefers the ball coming through around his head
GLENN PHILLIPS will join an ever-increasing list of South African-born cricketers who have lined up to sing God defend New Zealand, when his makes his T20 international debut for the Black Caps against the Proteas at Eden Park tomorrow.
Phillips, who was born in East London and still has a strong Eastern Cape accent despite immigrating with his family to North Island when he was just five, has replaced the injured Martin Guptill in the Black Caps squad for the lone T20 and subsequent first two ODIs. It will not be the first time that Phillips experiences playing against his country of birth, for it was only last year when the dashing opening batsman and his younger brother Dale faced the Junior Proteas at the ICC Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh.
Due to a variety of reasons, many South Africans have taken up residence in New Zealand over the past few years which has created opportunities for the likes of fast bowler Neil Wagner and the now-retired wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk to play international cricket for their adopted country.
However, the most celebrated export of course remains former Gauteng all-rounder Grant Elliott who famously smashed Proteas speedster Dale Steyn over his head for a six to seal an epic World Cup semifinal win for the Black Caps at Eden Park in 2015.
The major difference between Phillips is that the youngster has graduated through the Kiwi youth system unlike and the above-mentioned trio who all learnt their trade in Cricket South Africa’s structures.
As a result, the New Zealand selectors have backed their prodigy after a sensational domestic T20 season where Phillips blasted 369 runs at an average of 46 and at a strike-rate of 143. He has since been listed on the IPL auction too. “I got the news at about 7.40 last night ... it was the biggest call of my life so far, I can’t believe it really,” Phillips told reporters in Auckland.
“It was very much out of the blue. I thought Martin Guptill would be there, I thought he was fully fit. Getting that call at that time in the evening was a bit of a shock, but definitely one I’m really happy about it.”
The rookie has a simplistic approach to batting of “see ball, hit ball” and will look to continue this game plan against a Proteas attack featuring the impressive fast bowler Kagiso Rabada.
“I haven’t played on the main ground, but I’d rather the ball was coming through around my head than my toes. In the end, as an opening batsman the faster the ball comes the faster it goes off bat, I prefer it to come a bit quicker,” said Phillips.
“I haven’t been given any expectations, which is nice on new shoulders ... I’m feeling good, I will just be keeping things as simple as possible.”
Phillips’ selection has been at the expense of New Zealand’s most experienced batsman Ross Taylor. Taylor’s continued omission from the Black Caps T20 squad has caused quite a stir, especially due to the tense relationship the former captain shares with Black Caps coach Mike Hesson.
Although the pair have learnt to operate effectively in the same space since their public spat in 2012, when Taylor was removed as captain of the Black Caps ODI team in a manner which former Kiwi assistant coach Trent Woodhill described as “unfathomable” it remains a slippery slope.
The fallout was actually so immense that Taylor skipped the tour to SA that season and ultimately received an official apology from New Zealand Cricket for the treatment handed out to one of their most respected players.
The soon-to-be 33-year-old is at ease now with not leading the Black Caps, but remains sceptical of his continued T20 international absence.
“Um, he (Hesson) just said I’m not in the team. He hasn’t really said anything else,” Taylor told Radio Sport. “I asked the question when I got dropped for Bangladesh and he (Hesson) said ‘this is the best team that we feel for this tour against Bangladesh’ and I suppose you’ve just got to respect the decision that he made. For this game I just heard I wasn’t selected and I didn’t ask any questions.”
The Kiwi selectors have not ignored experience altogether, with 32-year-old Dean Brownlie added to the ODI squad for first two matches against the Proteas. Brownlie was unlucky to miss out initially after recently striking 63 in the final ODI against Australia that sealed the Chappell-Hadlee series for the hosts in Hamilton.