New Zealand rookie wicket-keeper batsman Glenn Phillips will join the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), franchise Jamaica Tallawahs during the ongoing fifth edition of the Twenty20 competition in Windies.
The 20-year-old right-handed batsman was handed over an international debut in February against South Africa, as his news of featuring for Tallawahs led by veteran Kumar Sangakkara, was confirmed by Auckland Cricket in domestic set-up.
It’s pertinent to mention, his chief coach of Auckland Aces Mark O’Donnell is working as an assistant for Tallawahs.
“Glenn [Phillips] is valuable to any team he joins as he can turn a game on its head with his batting,” O’Donnell was quoted as saying by Stuff News.
Interestingly, Phillips has become the seventh compatriot to feature in the CPL competition as Brendon McCullum and Colin Munro are playing for Trinbago Knight Riders, Mitchell McClenaghan and Jesse Ryder for St. Lucia Stars, Martin Guptill for Guyana Amazon Warriors and Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson featuring for Barbados Tridents.
“He is also handy behind the stumps so to have him as a keeping option is also helpful for the Tallawahs,” O’Donnell added.
With the induction of Phillips in the squad, Tallawahs which is playing under the guidance of England’s Paul Nixon has now brought five overseas players including batting stalwart Kumar Sangakkara, Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan and Pakistan duo of Imad Wasim and Mohammad Sami.
Earlier, 17 players from the Black Caps have had registered for the draft in which only six were inducted for the ongoing edition.
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In the McDonalds Super Smash domestic T20 competition last year, Phillips scored at the average of 46 after scoring 369 runs in the competition at the strike-rate of 143.
Rising against the tide, the batting sensation Phillips registered his name in record books in 2016-17 after registering a century in first-class including List-A and T20, respectively.
Coming to the fixture, Tallawahs are scheduled to face Trinbago Knight Riders on August 9 after losing one and winning another in their two games of the fixture so far.
Phillips has featured in a solitary T20 for Kiwis as has played 12 List-A matches and four first-class games. In 11 domestic T20 fixtures, Phillips has scored at the average of 41.55.`