Jamaica Tallawahs sign New Zealand keeper-batsman Glenn Phillips

New Zealand’s young T20 sensation, Glenn Phillips will now travel to join the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) team Jamaica Tallawahs. The 20-year-old from Auckland will now be the fifth overseas signing of Tallawahs after Shakib Al Hasan, Kumar Sangakkara, Mohammad Sami and Imad Wasim. Phillips had a successful 2016/17 season across all formats after he got to feature in only 5 List A games across 2014/15 and 2015/16 seasons.

The South African-born player featured in the McDonald’s Super Smash for Auckland in which he stood as highest run-getter scoring 369 runs in just 10 games at an average of 46.12 and an impressive strike-rate of 143.02. He struck an unbeaten 116 and three fifties during the tournament. His successful stint in the domestic T20 tournament earned him a national call as Phillips, at an age of 20 years and 73 days became the 3rd youngest New Zealand player to feature in T20Is. He played in the one-off T20 against South Africa at his home ground Eden Park, Auckland but failed to make a mark.

The wicket-keeper batsman will be the 7th New Zealand player to feature in this CPL season along with Kane Williamson, Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, Colin Munro, Mitchell McClenaghan and Jesse Ryder but the only New Zealander in the Tallawahs. However, Phillips might not have a lonely feeling as his Auckland Aces’ coach, Mark O’Donnell is currently serving Jamaica Tallawahs as their assistant coach. Thirteen other New Zealand players are currently in England playing the NatWest T20 Blast for various teams.

A valuable addition

Talking about the inclusion of Phillips, O’Donnell said that he will be a valuable player for the team with his batting and also with his glove work behind the stumps. Tallawahs so far have played both their games against Barbados Tridents in Lauderhill. They lost their first game by 12 runs and won their next game by the same margin.

“Glenn is valuable to any team he joins as he can turn a game on its head with his batting. He is also handy behind the stumps so to have him as a keeping option is also helpful for the Tallawahs,” said Mark O’Donnell, who is assistant to Paul Nixon for the Jamaica Tallawahs team.