Glenn Phillips: New Zealand teenager hits 6 sixes in an over for MCC
New Zealand teenager Glenn Phillips has written a new chapter in English cricket history. The wicketkeeper-batsman from Auckland became the latest entry in the elite list of players who have hit six sixes in an over.
Playing for the historic Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the young right-handed batsman hit 36 runs off an over against the Duke of Norfolk XI at Arundel last weekend. The youngster went on to score a brilliant double century in that innings.
The 19-year-old also became the first man in history to hit six consecutive sixes in an over on the ground, which is situated alongside Arundel Castle, West Sussex in the south of England and has hosted cricket matches since 1895.
Phillips finished his innings, 201 not out from 123 balls, as his side posted 299 before declaring. The Duke of Norfolk XI made 174 for the loss of seven wickets at the end of the play as the match finished in a draw.
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The talented Kiwi cricketer was born in South Africa but was raised in New Zealand. He also represented the island nation at the Under-19 World cup, which was held in Bangladesh in February this year. He played an aggressive knock of 89 off just 40 balls against Scotland U-19 in the tournament.
Phillips has also played five limited-overs matches for Auckland and scored an excellent century for them. He made his maiden first-class century against Otago in Ford Trophy 2015-16 and helped his side to chase down a stiff target of 314.
The 19-year-old is currently with the MCC as part of their young cricketers' program. Before him, the legendary Blackcaps captain Martin Crowe and Ross Taylor were also a part of the same program.
Not many batsmen in history have hit every ball out of the park in an over. Only two have done this in international cricket, South Africa’s Herschelle Gibbs achieved this unique feat against the Netherlands in 2007 ODI World Cup and India’s star batsman Yuvraj Singh did it in the T20 World Cup against England in the same year.
In first-class cricket, West Indian great Garfield Sobers did it in County cricket and India’s Ravi Shastri did the same in Indian’s premium first-class tournament Ranji trophy. Young Phillips’ heroics will surely be remembered by the historic MCC for years to come.