Glenn Phillips becomes first-ever cricketer to achieve this massive milestone

New Zealand all-rounder Glenn Phillips scripted the history on Saturday (2nd March). The Kiwi player became the first player in the history of international cricket to claim a fifer and a stumping in the same city. 

New Zealand all-rounder Glenn Phillips achieved the feat after he picked fifer in the ongoing first match of the Test series against Australia. The match between the two teams is taking place at the Basin Reserve Park in Wellington. 

Glenn Phillips has been nothing short of exceptional with both bat and ball in the ongoing game against Australia. He didn’t get an opportunity to bowl in the first innings. But he made sure that he cashed on the opportunity with the ball and helped him get on the top. 

Glenn Phillips spun the web around the Australian batters and bowled sensationally well. The all-rounder bagged his maiden fifer in Test cricket and helped his team bundle out the opposition for just 164 runs in the second innings, setting a target of 369 runs to chase. 

Glenn Phillips removed big names in Usman Khawaja (28), Cameron Green (34), Travis Head (39), Mitchell Marsh (0) and Alex Carey (3) to pick wickets. He returned with the figures of 5/45. He was supported well by Tim Southee (2) and Scott Kuggelejin (3) as New Zealand bossed the second innings. 

With his five wickets, Glenn Phillips achieved, he became the first New Zealand spinner to pick up a 5-wicket haul in Tests at home in 16 years. The last one to achieve the feat was the great Daniel Vettori, who achieved the feat against West Indies in 2008. 

Glenn Phillips with his fifer also became the first player in the history of international cricket to pick a fifer and inflict a stumping in the same city. He effected the stumping at Wellington against Pakistan during the Test match in 2018.

Glenn Phillips becomes the FIRST man in international cricket with a fifer and a stumping at same city.

Phillips at Wellington
Stumping v PAK, 2018
Fifer v AUS, 2024pic.twitter.com/7OtXXCoSRi

— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) March 2, 2024

I’m always keen to have a bowl – Glenn Phillips 

Glenn Phillips opened up about his spell with the ball. He hailed skipper Tim Southee for using his bowlers well and claimed that he is always ready to bowl. While highlighting the matchups, he explained: 

“If you look at the way the wind was going today, small side to leg side with the wind, one strong right-hand better and a left-hander that wasn’t facing many balls, I don’t think that’s the match-up. I think the way Tim [Southee] used the bowlers was really good. I’m always keen to have a bowl, I’m always keen to bowl at whatever-hand batter.” 

Not only with the ball, Glenn Phillips has been at the top of his game with the bat as well in the ongoing game. He was the lone warrior for his team with the bat and played a stellar innings of 71 runs off 70 balls. He was the only batter from his team to go past the 50-run mark. 

Glenn Phillips will be extremely crucial for his team in the ongoing second innings as well. At stumps on Day 3, New Zealand were 111/3 with Rachin Ravindra (56*) and Daryl Mitchell (12*) batting. They still are 258 runs away from victory.