Barbados Royals head coach Daniel Vettori was all praise for what Glenn Phillips brings to the table for his team and sees him a “total cricketer”, who might even be seen bowling in the latter stages of the Caribbean Premier League 2021.
The New Zealand right-hand batter has been magnificent for the Royals over the last three editions of the Premier League. The 24-year-old has finished as their top run-maker, could be seen bowling his skiddy off-spin as Royals’ go deeper into their campaign and the surfaces in St Kitts start wearing out.
When at the peak of his fitness, the Kiwi could also double up as a wicketkeeper and help balance the side that way. But with a back condition holding him back, off-spin could be Phillips’ secondary mode of contribution to the side.
“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.”
Vettori said during a media interaction, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
Vettori’s optimism on Phillips being capable of making an impact with the ball comes from the fact that he has seen that happen closely.
In the final encounter of New Zealand’s prolonged home T20I summer against Bangladesh earlier this year, Phillips backed up his half-century with a three-over spell of 1/20 in his team’s win.
In his post-match interview, the 24-year-old had said off-spin is a skill that he has been working on for a while:.
“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,”
he stated.
