Glenn Phillips, who began his international career as a wicketkeeper-batter, worked on his off-spin bowling to fit into New Zealand’s strong line-up as a batting allrounder, and the transformation appears to be working well.
On the first day of the Sylhet Test on Tuesday, Phillips was the most successful bowler, with four wickets, surpassing the impact of two world-class spinners, Ish Sodhi and Ajaj Patel.
Phillips was helped by Bangladesh batsmen who lacked the temperament required for red-ball cricket. The home team would be dismayed to collapse from a position of strength — 180 for two during the conclusion of the second session — to finish on 310 for nine at stumps.
When a well-established Bangladesh skipper, Najmul Hossain Shanto, threw his wicket away after top edge a full toss delivery, bowler Phillips, playing only his second Test, was amusedly shaking his head.
“I’d hoped to get my first Test wicket for a long time, but this was not how I imagined it,” Phillips told reporters after the day’s play.
Phillips believes the Bangladeshi batters’ over-aggressive approach to the fifth spinner allowed him to dismiss Mominul Haque, debutant Shahadat Hossain Dipu, and Nurul Hasan Sohan – all of whom were quite established at the crease.
“Obviously, there’s always that element of unknown with someone new that the guys haven’t faced before.” As the fifth bowler, I’d obviously aim to target myself as well,” added the all-rounder, who was born in South Africa and moved to New Zealand when he was five years old.
“I believe the combination of those two factors provided an opportunity to take a few wickets, which was really nice.” Everyone contributed to the buildup of pressure. “I just got my reward.”