How a personal call from Steve Smith convinced Josh Philippe to join Sydney Sixers
Steve Smith and Josh Philippe have formed an instant bond at the Sydney Sixers. But the pair may never have been united in magenta without the Australian Test star taking matters in to his own hands.
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The first time the Sydney Sixers asked Josh Philippe to join their team, he turned them down.
Still in his teens and living at home with his parents in Western Australia, he gave it serious thought but politely declined the offer.
The second time they called, he changed his mind straight away.
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Not because the terms of the deal had changed, but because of who was on the other end of the line trying to persuade him to move east.
It was Steve Smith, Philippe’s cricketing idol.
“To get someone like that call you, it’s pretty special, hard to say no to,” Philippe said.
“He gave me a phone call when I initially turned it down and it was definitely an important one.
“He just sort of opened my eyes to the great opportunity to play a 14 game season and I guess at the time it was tough but it was a really good decision to make and I’m really happy here now.”
Smith didn’t play for the Sixers in Philippe’s first BBL season when the dashing youngster caught everyone’s attention with his fearless batting and uncanny resemblance to his hero.
But the pair have been on the same side this season after Smith returned following Australia’s tour of India and they have formed an instant bond.
With 435 runs and four half-centuries to his name, Philippe is the team’s leading scorer this season while Smith has the highest average (49.50) ahead of Saturday’s Big Bash grand final at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
They have batted together three times with each in awe of the other.
“He’s a good young kid who wants to learn and he’s playing some really good cricket at the moment,” Smith said.
“I’ve spoken so much about him since I’ve been back at the Sixers, how talented he is. He’s got a really bright future but he’s got to keep working hard, keep pushing his game forward and keep wanting to get better.”
Eight years younger than Smith, Philippe has already been tipped as a future international and has just signed his first contract in the Indian Premier League. But the 22-year-old knows he still has more to do than just impress the man who lured him to Sydney.
“I guess I'm just going to keep trying to make as many runs as I can, hopefully get an opportunity at the IPL and you never know,” he said.
“I’m quite keen to make as many runs as I can, keep working as hard as I can and see what happens from there.”
SMITH: WASH OUT WON’T CHEAPEN SIXERS TITLE
Steve Smith has appealed to Big Bash officials not to succumb to pressure to proceed with Saturday’s grand final if conditions at the Sydney Cricket Ground are too dangerous to play.
Like everyone, the Sydney Sixers’ star batsmen is desperate for the blockbuster match to go ahead as planned but with heavy rain forecast the chances are looking increasingly bleak.
There is a chance the game could be shortened to a minimum of five overs per side if the weather clears long enough but Smith said player safety should be the number one priority if the field is too wet.
“You never want the game to be dangerous,” he said.
“So I’m sure they’ll go through their processes and take the right approach to the game.”
Smith said he supported the decision to move the bushfire fundraising match – which was planned as a curtain raiser to the main event – to Melbourne to protect the SCG pitch in case play does go ahead.
But he scoffed at the suggestion the BBL final should be moved to Melbourne, because the weather forecast for the weekend in Victoria is fine, insisting that if the match is washed out and the Sixers are declared winners, they will be worthy champions.
“I think it’s wise move to have postponed or moved the bushfire game,” Smith said.
“We don't need people playing on the wicket before the final of the Big Bash.
“We're hopeful that this rain stays away and we can get a game in.
“It’s not the ideal end to the season with a final but it’s out of our control, we can’t control the weather unfortunately, but we’ve earnt the right to host the final.”
Smith’s biggest concern is what happens if the game is reduced because it can turn the match into a lottery.
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The Sixers were bowled out for just 76 in a rain-affected match against the Sydney Thunder last month with their cross town rivals needing only 28 to win under DLS.
The result could even be decided with the toss because the team batting second could have a huge advantage so Smith said the Sixers might have to switch tactics on the run.
“It’s been spoken about a little bit, rain affected games can be tough,” he said.
“Sometimes, small chases, a new ball that swings around for a little bit can be really tough to go as hard as you want to go early on in a power play.
“So we might have to talk about a few tactics but at the moment we’re just preparing like we’re playing a normal game.”
Originally published as How a personal call from Steve Smith convinced Josh Philippe to join Sydney Sixers
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