Barbados Royals 'lucky' to have 'total cricketer' Glenn Phillips, says Daniel Vettori

Barbados Royals’ head coach Daniel Vettori was full of praise for New Zealand cricketer Glenn Phillips, terming him as a player who can emerge as a game-changer in all departments. Phillips has been a part of the CPL since 2017, emerging as the top scorer for the Jamaica Tallawahs over the last three seasons. The cricketer was hit hard by a back condition that prevented him from keeping wickets for long periods, resulting in the decision to learn the art of bowling fastish offspin.

“From a batting perspective, we’ve seen he’s a guy who can adapt to Caribbean conditions. Sometimes, the wickets can be tough on batters, but by all accounts, he’s been so successful over here and in that regard, we’re lucky to have him. I think you see the energy he brings in the field and he can actually make a difference in the field, which you can’t say about every player,” said Vettori during a virtual press conference.

“Going to tap into Glenn Phillips’ bowling”

“The thing that we’re going to tap into him is his bowling. He’s starting to bowl a bit more for New Zealand – they see him as an option. Once the conditions start to suit spin bowlers, I think we see Glenn Phillips as a total cricketer. That’s such a unique thing and in this day and age, he can contribute extensively in all three disciplines. Glenn Phillips has bowled in the past and [I’m] trying to develop those guys. So, my teams from the past do rely heavily on the spinners and hopefully, we can bring the best out of them,” he added.

Phillips showcased his ability to emerge as an all-round performer, in New Zealand’s last T20I series at home against Bangladesh. The cricketer smashed an unbeaten 58 followed by figures of 1 for 20 in three overs in a rain-hit fixture in Napier. He further showcased the same confidence for the Auckland Aces in the Super Smash and Gloucestershire in the Vitality T20 Blast.

“My bowling plans are very simple”

“I’ve been working on it for years to press my case for a long time now. It was just about getting the opportunity to prove that I can do it. Tim [Southee] has had faith in me for a long time; it was just about getting the right chance to prove that I can do that. To be able to perform under pressure, especially when we were under the pump, that was really important to me, especially after the first game against Aussies, where I did feel the pressure and the nerves a little bit. So, to be able to come back and improve from the last performance is really important to me,” said Phillips of his bowling after the Napier T20I

“In the end, my bowling plans are very simple and he [Southee] has faced me a lot in the nets. So, he knows that my plan is very simple. I’ve got two-three balls and he just backs me to know which ball to bowl and execute that ball. Obviously, if bowlers miss [their lengths], they miss. I’m not the only bowler that misses and I won’t be the last. So, he gives you that faith and trust to be able to go out there and execute exactly what you want to do. At this level, you’re also required, as a bowler, to be able to take charge of your own field and where you want to bowl,” he added.