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