ICC World T20 | Twitter reacts to Glenn Phillips borrowing tricks from Usain Bolt with clever hack to counter ‘mankad’

by Arthur · October 29, 2022

Cricket is a game of innovation and those who manage to adapt to the ever-changing landscape are the ones who end up thriving. Glenn Phillips displayed a fine example of smart cricket on Saturday with a crooked starting position at the crease to avoid Mankad en route to a blistering century.

New Zealand once again showed why they are regarded as the most tenacious fighters in world cricket, a trait that has taken them to two consecutive World Cup finals and a World T20 final, with a stunning counter-attack against Sri Lanka at the Syndey Cricket Ground. Despite reeling at 25/3 after six overs, the Kiwi batsmen chipped in to end up with a commendable 167/7 on a difficult pitch. Most of those runs came from Glenn Phillips’ bat alone as he stormed to 104 off 64 deliveries in one of the most dominant displays for New Zealand in World T20 history.

The 25-year-old’s knocking was largely built on his ability to read the game and poke holes in the pitches when possible, or simply muscle the ball over the boundary when the situation beckoned him to do so. Yet it was his determination to keep scoring that stood out the most, and the symbol itself was presented on full display in the final innings of the game. Phillips was resigned to the non-striker’s end while Mitchell Santner took strike and knowing he needed to face as many deliveries as possible at this late stage of the innings was desperate to get the strike back for the last five deliveries.

Thus, as Lahiru Kumara steamed in, the batsman crouched down with his back leg behind the crease while the rest of his body leaned forward low towards the ground, bat flat to the pitch in front of him. His position was clearly similar to the likes of Usain Bolt and his fellow sprinters when they are ready to accelerate, and Phillips’ unique strategy ensured he was not run out by Mankad while gaining the maximum advantage possible while backing up. Black Cap’s clever thinking soon sent the Internet buzzing, ensuring that it’s only a matter of time before Phillips’ innovation becomes part of white-ball cricket.

Sprint time!!

Super

Glenn Philips plays cricket as well as 20m sprint…WOW for an athlete..

— Anurag (@annu_verma02) 29 October 2022

🚨 A new style of sprinting between the cricket pitch after a new law comes into effect
Just look at Glenn Philips #T20IWorldCup2022 #T20WC #T20WorldCup2022 #NZvsSL pic.twitter.com/Pt3BqHnaK4

— Muhammad Tahir khan (@tahirthe12thman) 29 October 2022

Bolt

Impressive

Glenn Philips gets a century, impressive runs between the wickets throughout the innings! #NZvSL

— Aaradhya Mestry (@aradhyamestry) 29 October 2022

Glenn Philips celebrates his 100, funny 😭

— Mridu ⚯͛ (@mj_aIways) 29 October 2022

Fabulous

Biggest shot ever played by a middle-order hitter in ICC T-2OI Men’s World Cup I have seen. For a blow Played by Glenn Philips.#T20WC

— Ravishankar Kumar (@Ravisha35334973) 29 October 2022

It was just too good