The adage “Cometh the hour, cometh the man” holds true for New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips, who is steadily establishing himself as a consistent match-winner across all formats. In a Mirpur Test where both teams struggled on a vicious pitch, Phillips single-handedly carried New Zealand to a remarkable victory over Bangladesh.
His combined 127 runs off 120 deliveries across both innings stand out as a resilient and dominating batting performance. Considering the batter’s struggles on this difficult surface, Phillips’ effort speaks volumes about his talent and commitment to New Zealand cricket.
Playing on unfamiliar spinning pitches, a challenge for a player from New Zealand, Phillips adapted remarkably, delivering a terrific batting performance and claiming three wickets in the first innings.
On numerous occasions, Glenn Phillips has rescued New Zealand from precarious positions, solidifying his status as a bonafide match-winner. He plays with unwavering determination, never holding back. Whether in defense or offense, his intent is clear and unwavering.
Most importantly, Phillips is a quick learner. He rectified mistakes made in the first Test and adjusted his approach for the second, playing with a straighter bat and utilizing full-face shots to great effect.
As Phillips himself admitted, getting in on this challenging pitch was not easy. Entering at 46/5 in both innings, he faced a daunting task. The captain, Tim Southee, rightly described the wicket as one where “a ball had your name on it.”
While Glenn Phillips shone, concerns remain for New Zealand
Much was expected from Devon Conway, particularly after his experience playing in the subcontinent, especially in the IPL. However, he has not translated that experience into consistent performances for New Zealand.
His last truly recognizable batting effort came against England in the Cricket World Cup opener. Since then, he has been inconsistent, often falling victim to soft dismissals or struggling against certain bowlers.
The cases of Tom Latham and Henry Nicholls are distinct. Both are undoubtedly talented players in home conditions, but they tend to struggle in subcontinent conditions.
Their batting styles seem poorly suited to these pitches, and their confidence seems to suffer as well. This presents a major challenge for New Zealand going forward in the World Test Championship cycle.
In four innings against Bangladesh, Nicholls scored a meager 4 runs. Such a performance is unacceptable for a number 4 batsman. New Zealand has options available. They should consider bringing back Will Young and giving Rachin Ravindra more consistent opportunities.
Building a young, reliable team requires identifying players who can perform well in all conditions, and Ravindra demonstrates potential against spinners.
