“I believed there had been a run. Daryl Mitchell accepted my call. It was not too bad of a throw. Run-outs are ultimately not the best outcome in Test cricket. I totally accept responsibility for it, and maybe I’ll decide otherwise the next day.”
Glenn Phillips isn’t one to hold back, particularly when it comes to taking a teammate’s position unfairly. Daryl Mitchell was hitting brilliantly when that run out occurred, scoring 57 off of 86. Other than perhaps diving into the crease, Mitchell’s options were rather limited, and even then, he might not have been spared.
However, Glenn Phillips is one of the game’s greatest hustlers:
he is a wicketkeeper who can bowl off-spin with devastating force on dry surfaces, as lucrative as any infielder or outfield player, and, of course, one of the most dependable boundary-hitters in the sport. Few cricket players perform as much on as many levels. Respect for the hustle is required.
In the first innings, he claimed two wickets with his offspin, which occasionally turned the ball dramatically. Thus far in this Test, he has bowled 30 overs and seems to be enjoying himself.
“I enjoy bowling a lot more than I enjoy hitting. I love that I can bowl eight overs on the first day, 10 overs on the second, and a cheeky six today. In the upcoming days, maybe, a few more poles [wickets] will be under the belt.”
After their next Test in Galle, New Zealand will have a day off, but they also have games in Bengaluru, Pune, and Mumbai. Even spinners like Phillips might be useful now that Will O’Rourke and Tim Southee have established some groundwork in Galle, particularly against left-handers.
“[O’Rourke] has made some good footmarks on both sides of the pitch, if you manage to hit them there’s some good turn and bounce.”
But Phillips’s batting has been the main source of his contribution thus far in this Test. 49 not out of 48 balls was his score. Out of those runs, thirty were off sixes.
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“Tail-biting is a speciality in baseball. We are encouraged heading into the bowling phase since we were able to put 36 on for the last wicket. Although we would have preferred more, a 34-run [35] advantage is usually advantageous.
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