Star’s ‘unbelievable’ Mankad solution is absolute genius

A New Zealand star has become cricket’s newest innovator after he adopted a new ploy to negate the threat of a Mankad dismissal.

Glenn Phillips avoids mankad vs SL

Glenn Phillips became cricket’s newest innovator at the T20 World Cup on Saturday when he adopted a new ploy to negate the threat of a Mankad.

The New Zealand batter made sure he was well within his crease at the nonstriker’s end against Sri Lanka but still sought another way to gain an advantage once the ball was bowled.

He did this by getting into a crouching position, similar to a sprinter on the starting blocks, before bursting forward once the ball was released.

Early contender for @Final_Word_Pod hall of fame: Glenn Phillips’ crouching track start to avoid Mankad risk. @[e-mail]/vSsUnVUkKX

— (not that) Tim Minchin (@tGuillermo) October 29, 2022

As such, there could be absolutely no question about him gaining an unfair advantage by leaving his crease before the ball was bowled.

And yet, by the time his batting partner was playing the delivery, he was a couple strides down the wicket.

“It was very much spur of the moment,” he said afterwards. “I actually had my three-point start wrong, which my best mate’s going to probably give me a little bit of stick for later on. It’s supposed to be the other arm and other leg.

“I guess the position was to be able to see the bowlers and take off as quick as possible from a sprinter’s start when you’re trying not to be out of the crease as much as possible — there’s been a lot going around about Mankads and leaving the crease.

“At the end of the day, it’s my responsibility to make sure that I’m in the crease and leave at the right time. If the bowler is doing his job, then he has the right to be able to take the bails off.”

Asked if he thinks more cricketers will adopt his approach, he replied: “Who knows? Maybe some people will use it. Maybe some people won’t. Obviously the extension of the bat being in the crease gives you another extra foot or two, but at the end of the day, I’ve got little arms. So my speed is probably going to get me a little bit further than my reaches.”

Former West Indies star and commentator Ian Bishop was impressed with the innovation.

“Looks like Glenn Phillips learnt more than a thing or two from playing for the Jamaica Tallawahs in the home of Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake among others,” Bishop tweeted.

Phillips went on to produce one of the great T20 World Cup innings, smoking 104 off 64 balls in a big 65-run win.

This is unbelievable from Glenn Phillips. Mankad, run out, backing up, breaking the law... What is all that? Do it the Phillips way pic.twitter.com/eFCNLIcitO

— Aritra Mukherjee (@aritram029) October 29, 2022

Looks like Glenn Phillips learnt more than a thing or two from playing for the Jamaica Tallawahs in the home of Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake amongst others 🏃🏿‍♂️🏃🏿‍♂️🤣.

— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) October 29, 2022

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

This image makes Ashwin and Deepti very sad pic.twitter.com/GqHze9GFkq

— Dennis Long March (@DennisCricket_) October 29, 2022

Originally published as Star’s ‘unbelievable’ Mankad solution is absolute genius