Three T20I games against Ireland, three wins for Aotearoa and more Glenn Phillips shenanigans. Phillips was the only kiwi batter to score over 100 runs in this series, registering two 50+ scores in his 148 runs @ 148avg/132.14sr (boosted by two not-out innings). This series was about consistent production for Phillips while Jimmy Neesham (221sr), Michael Bracewell (162sr) and Finn Allen (147sr) took care of the efficient slugging.

Phillips has become a staple of the Blackcaps T20I team and might be the busiest kiwi cricketer picking up gigs around the world. Some folks would be surprised to know that Phillips made his ODI debut against Ireland a few weeks ago and keep in mind that Phillips is off to Otago Volts for the domestic summer.

Since the T20 World Cup last year, only Martin Guptill has scored more T20I runs than Phillips. Aotearoa has played six T20I games in that period and Phillips' not-outs give him a higher average than Guptill, although Guptill has scored more runs with a higher strike-rate...

Martin Guptill: 6inns, 212 runs @ 35.33avg/150.35sr, 2 x 50.

Glenn Phillips: 6inns, 182 runs @ 45.50avg/130sr, 2 x 50.

At the T20 World Cup last year, Aotearoa made the final without Phillips firing. Phillips scored 105 runs @ 25.25avg/111.7sr in his 5inns and his lone over of bowling went for 11 runs. Now Phillips is preparing for another T20 World Cup this year and Phillips has started this phase of tracking in dominant fashion.

Along with being one of Aotearoa's best batters in T20I cricket since the last World Cup, Phillips has impressed in the two T20 competitions during this phase...

2021/22 Super Smash: 6inns, 158 runs @ 31.60avg/146.29sr, 2 x 50.

2022 T20 Blast: 12inns, 340 runs @ 34avg/135.45sr, 4 x 50.

Phillips scored the most runs for Gloucestershire in the T20 Blast and hit the most sixes. Combine that with a fine County Championship stint where Phillips played two games for Gloucs and scored 212 runs @ 53avg, with a century and a another 50+ score.

County Championship mahi and Phillips' debut ODI series where he scored 101 runs @ 33.66avg/102sr against Ireland, aren't super relevant to these Blackcaps Trackers. They do bolster the Phillips yarn though as he continues to impress in various formats, playing his role with different teams in different countries. When exploring these pockets, Phillips' growth is most evident.

Just don't expect Phillips' bowling growth to be expressed in T20I cricket. Phillips has bowled in most of these pockets/competitions and wants to develop as an all-rounder, but Aotearoa has two quality bowlers in Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner leading their spin unit for T20I cricket. Sodhi and Santner bowled 11ov each against Ireland and Phillips didn't bowl, while Michael Bracewell only got 5 deliveries.

There may be opportunities for Phillips to roll the arm over against Scotland and his triple-threat skillset is enticing to ponder. Zone in on Phillips the batter though and how he impacts games in the field. Not only is Phillips in hot T20 form, Phillips has smacking boundaries in this format since his Super Smash debut in 2016 and he continues to be a funky lad to track.

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