Search

show me:

Philippe a phenomenal talent: Hazlewood

3 minute read

Australia international Josh Hazlewood says Sydney Sixers teammate Josh Philippe is a class act and phenomenal talent.

JOSH HAZLEWOOD
JOSH HAZLEWOOD Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

Emerging Sydney Sixers batsman Josh Philippe has been rated a phenomenal talent capable of playing at international level by teammate and established Australian representative Josh Hazlewood.

Both men were prominent in the Sixers' seven-wicket win over Adelaide Strikers at Coffs Harbour on the NSW north coast on Sunday evening.

Opener Philippe paced the Sixers pursuit of 177 perfectly, scoring an unbeaten 83 off 52 balls.

Hazlewood, playing his first game since injuring a hamstring in mid-December in the first Test against New Zealand, was far and away the most economical bowler in the game.

He conceded just 18 runs off his four overs and grabbed a crucial wicket when he uprooted the leg stump of fast scoring Australia ODI and T20 representative Alex Carey.

Hazlewood was impressed by 22-year-old west Australian Philippe who is in his first season with the Sixers after playing the last two BBL campaigns with Perth Scorchers.

He scored an unbeaten 81 in the Sixers' first game, an eight-wicket win over the Scorchers, and has amassed 256 runs at an average of 51.20,

Wicketkeeper Philippe has the highest run aggregate and average of any Sixer and is the only player on the team to score half-centuries this season.

"I haven't spent a lot of time with Flip (Philippe), but yeah class act," Hazlewood said.

'He's learning every game and I think the way he batted today, it was all go.

"He ran hard, the ones and twos and he knocked it around when he had to, and the had the big shots, as we know he has.

"But he's a phenomenal talent I think he's going to get better and better."

Asked if Philippe possessed the traits to graduate to international level, Hazlewood said: "absolutely, obviously keep dominating this level as he is this year.

"He's certainly got the talent to go to the next level and I hope he does."

Hazlewood, who on Sunday played his first BBL game in almost six years, will again turn out against the Strikers at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday, before joining the Australian team for their three-match ODI series against India in that country later this month .

The Sixers remain second while the Strikers dropped a spot to fourth.

Think. Is this a bet you really want to place?

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au