New Zealand batsman feels he’d have started slower had he kept the bat in the crease in a regular way

Glenn Phillips, the New Zealand batsman, has said that he chose to hunker like a sprinter in the crease at the non-striker’s end against Sri Lanka so that he could run faster while watching out for the bowler as the possibility of getting run out was also at the forefront of his thoughts.

“It was a lot of spurs existing apart from everything else,” centurion Phillips said after New Zealand’s 65-run win in the T20 World Cup in Sydney. “I really had my three-point start wrong, which my best mate will likely provide me with a tad of stick for later on. Being the other arm and other leg is supposed.
“I guess the position was to have the option to see the bowlers and take off as speedy as possible from a sprinter’s start while you’re making an effort not to be out of the crease as much as possible — there’s been a great deal going around about Mankads and leaving the crease.

“By the day’s end, it’s my responsibility to ensure that I’m in the crease and leave with impeccable timing. On the off chance that the bowler is going about his business, he has the option to have the option to take the bails off.

Interesting approach by Glenn Phillips at the non striker's end in the final over v SL. Shows he's put some thought into how he can get a bigger boost. I like the idea of a low starting block sprinters explosion. Only issue is he's almost off balance at end and can't see behind. pic.twitter.com/YMNHg5lD45

— Peter Della Penna (@PeterDellaPenna) October 29, 2022

Phillips squatted with just his left foot inside the crease, and his right hand holding the bat, which lay on the turf, with his face shifted to watch Sri Lanka pacer Lahiru Kumara running into the bowl. He felt he’d have the option to get off the blocks speedier with this methodology, than if he would have kept his bat grounded in the crease in the ordinary way.

“For me to have the option to get into that start, that position as speedy as possible, it just appeared to be legit. The genuine reason I did it was the position I was getting into, assuming I had my bat behind the crease, I thought it was slower to turn and advance off. Consequently the reason for having my foot inside the crease and going from that point,” Phillips said.

When asked if his creative technique would come to be used by additional batsmen in T20 cricket in a year’s time.

Phillips said, “Who can say for sure? Perhaps some individuals will use it. Perhaps some individuals will not. Obviously, the extension of the bat being in the crease gives you another additional foot or two, however by the day’s end, I have little arms. So my speed is presumably going to get me somewhat farther than my reaches.”