Glenn Phillips: Seven Things to Know About the Man Who Smashed India

Glenn Phillips hit 10 sixes and six fours in his 107 off 49 balls against India at Eden Park on October 30. His innings helped New Zealand reach 259 for seven. For anyone discovering him through that assault, here are seven things that explain the man behind it.

1. He wanted someone else to wear the gloves

Phillips kept wicket for New Zealand, but the job frustrated him. He preferred bowling and wanted more freedom to move. In a 2021 interview with The Cricketer, he explained that he had initially taken up keeping because others were dropping the ball. Being good at it made handing over the job harder.

2. He knows what being dropped feels like

Against Pakistan in January 2018, Phillips scored three from 10 balls and five from 11. New Zealand dropped him and sent him back to Auckland to develop his game. That is eight runs from 21 deliveries across two innings, a useful reminder of how far his batting has travelled.

3. His Test call-up interrupted a beach outing

Phillips had been body surfing at Tawharanui in January 2020 when New Zealand chief selector Gavin Larsen called. An illness-hit squad needed him in Sydney. He caught an evening flight and learned during the pre-match warm-up that he would make his Test debut. He scored 52 in his first innings.

4. His bowling is a serious weapon

The former wicketkeeper took five for 45 against Australia in the Wellington Test in March 2024. His first Test five-wicket haul rewarded a skill he had long wanted to pursue. Back in 2021, he had told The Cricketer: “But bowling is where my passion lies.”

5. He crouched like a sprinter between deliveries

During the 2022 T20 World Cup, Phillips adopted a sprinter’s starting position at the non-striker’s end, with a foot behind the crease. He explained that it helped him watch the bowler and accelerate quickly while leaving at the right time. The unusual stance reflected a practical calculation about speed.

6. Even he worries about dropping catches

The spectacular dives can conceal the uncertainty. In an interview in April 2026, Phillips recalled a straightforward boundary chance slipping through his hands. He explained that having too much time under a catch sometimes allowed doubt to creep in. A sudden diving chance could give him less time to overthink.

7. He used an injury break to learn to fly

Aviation is another of his interests. According to The Indian Express, Phillips obtained his private pilot’s licence in September 2025 while away from cricket with a groin injury. The player known for launching himself across the outfield had found another demanding skill to master.