SAM DALLING: The Australia youngster has gone from humble grade cricketer to the brink of global stardom. After Big Bash success, he is bound for England and the IPL. The world is seemingly his oyster...
The rise to the top can be rapid these days. Not so long ago young upstarts had to earn their stripes at domestic level before the whispers of an international call-up could be heard. It was a rite of passage.
It could take years. But the modern game is very different. Global T20 events pack the calendar – in any ordinary year at least - and cricket has never been so popular.
Pre-packaged superstars who come assembled; flatpack is so 20th century. Never mind guest list, we’re talking VIP entry. It can be precarious existence though. The cliff face is never far away. One false step and the drop can be fatal.
It’s a jungle out there and only the fittest survive. They tend to be the ones with their feet planted firmly on the ground. One man who enjoyed such a meteoric rise in the past two years is young Australia starlet Josh Philippe.
The 23-year-old touched down in England last week ahead of the hastily arranged white-ball matches against Eoin Morgan’s men next month. Rather than getting carried away with his own hype, he’s determined to block out the white noise and let his cricket do the talking.
“You get thrown in at the deep end,” he told The Cricketer. “It’s all good and well when you are making runs; everyone thinks you’re a superstar. But miss out a few times and everyone thinks you should be back playing Second Grade.
“When someone is pumping you up the world is great, but it can also get to your head really fast. It’s one thing I’ve learned. It doesn’t matter what people say; all that counts is your performance on the field.”
Two years ago Philippe was a relative unknown. A promising rookie. Nothing more, nothing less. That’s an eternity these days though; blink and you can miss a whole career. At the turn of the year, Philippe’s heroics for Sydney Sixers helped his side to the Big Bash title.
The hard-hitting batsman was named in the team of the tournament having accumulated an impressive 487 runs. He’s no stranger to performing on the big stage either; his unbeaten half-century from just 29 deliveries earning him the final’s man-of-the-match award.
Fast forward seven months and he finds himself on the cusp of an international debut. While many might be fazed by such an ascent, Philippe hopes his experiences in the pressure cooker will help him cope with the step-up - although he admits it’s a work in progress.
“In the pressure moments I’m really clear on what I am trying to do and I commit 100% to it,” he explains. “I like to think I’m quite calm which allows me to think clearly and problem-solve my way through.
The future of county cricket must rest in the hands of its ardent following
“I don’t want to be too over-aroused; up and down, bouncing off the walls but I also don’t want to be too relaxed so that I’m not sharp. If I’m any of the in-betweens I’m off my game. That’s something I’m definitely still learning and it’s hard to find that happy medium.
“You’ve got to be prepared that some of the time you’re not going to walk out, face your first ball, and be feeling exactly how you want to. That’s probably one of the most challenging aspects of it. One hundred per cent I think it comes with more games and more experience. I’ve no doubt the more I play the more I’ll understand the best mental state for me to be in.”
If Philippe does make his international bow in the coming weeks it won’t be the first time he’s taken to the field in this country. The youngster spent a couple of seasons playing club cricket in England before entering the professional game.
His first taste of wet and windy English conditions came with Taunton Cricket Club back in 2016, and the following summer he headed to the north east to join Newcastle Cricket Club.
Unsurprisingly the runs flowed freely; 562 at a shade under 40 in the west country, followed up by 900 at 60 during his time at Newcastle. Philippe naturally talks fondly of both spells but its Somerset that will always hold a place in his heart.
“I absolutely loved it,” he said. “I came over knowing Somerset captain Tom Abell because he played in Perth the year before. He’s a great guy and I don’t think anyone would say a bad word about him.
“I knew he was there, and dad played over at Bishops Lydeard 20 years or so ago so he had a fair few family friends that looked after me. They sorted me a car and a golf membership. It was amazing – I had a blast. I played lots of cricket, lots of golf, and met lots of great people that I am still in touch with today. It was an awesome experience.”
Josh Philippe is now a regular in the Big Bash
The safe money would be on Philippe returning to the English game at some point in the future. The Cricketer understands he was close to signing for a stint in the Blast before the world got tipped upside down by Covid-19. Should opportunity comes knocking – perhaps even at Somerset – he won’t shy away.
“It’s definitely something I want to do. It’s the dream as an Australian to play an Aussie summer and then go and play an English one. I’m good mates with Tommy (Abell) and so I’m always in his ear that if he wants someone, I’m ready. I’ve got to keep making runs and hope someone gives me an opportunity.”
The modern cricketing calendar can be relentless and as soon as these matches are done and dusted Philippe will hop straight on a plane to the United Arab Emirates to take part in the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League.
It will be his debut in the world’s most prestigious domestic competition after he was snapped up by the Royal Challengers Bangalore at last December’s auction.
Heading there with him will be his international skipper Aaron Finch and England’s Moeen Ali, while he’ll also hook up with global superstars Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers.
Recalling the night in question he revealed to his shock when his name appeared on the screen.
“I played a Big Bash game and we flew to Alice Springs that night. I knew the auction was on so was following it closely. I was still watching at 12.30 in the morning and my name finally came up.
“RCB literally went for me straight away. I was in a bit of shock; I couldn’t quite believe it. I’d been told I had a chance, but nothing is set in stone and people change their minds all the time.
“Unless you’re someone like Steve Smith who everyone wants, it’s as much about luck as anything. I’m starting to go through who’s in the team in the early hours and I was like “wow”.
“It’s surreal; AB and Virat are two of the best in the world so it’ll be great to see how they train, play, and go about their business. It’s an amazing opportunity to rub shoulders with those guys and see how the best in the world operate.”
Josh Philippe is 23, really good at cricket and now on his first Australian T20I tour!
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) August 27, 2020
All the best to the @sixersBBL young gun with the Aussies in the UK ✨ pic.twitter.com/1tcQoKVK1T
That Philippe ended up a professional cricketer should come as no real shock; sporting talent runs in his family's blood. Father Steve turned out for Western Australia 2nd XI and coached Western Fury, while mother Leanne opened the batting for the state back in the 1980s.
And not to be outdone by her sibling, twin sister Emma represented Australia at pole vault in the World Youth Championships. No escape then for a young athlete when he returns home after a hard day’s training; not that he minded.
“I had a great childhood in a super sporty family," he added. “They pushed me and allowed me to follow my dreams – that’s all you can ask for really. Dad used to throw balls for me all the time and gave me plenty of advice along the way – that had it’s good and its bad moments, but he’s always been a great mentor for me.
“Mum played for WA and knows her stuff as well obviously. It was interesting sometimes when I came home having made no runs and had to sit at the dinner table with two people who know the game better than I do!”
Despite plying his BBL trade in Sydney, Philippe is a son of Western Australia. Brought up in Perth he still proudly represents the state in the domestic red ball and one-day competitions.
While it’s been a barren run for the state in the Sheffield Shield - their last title coming before the turn of the century – they’ve fared better in one day cricket and are reigning Marsh Cup champions.
But it’s a tournament that holds bitter-sweet memories for Phillipe. Despite being an ever-present through the group stages he never really got going with the bat. The result? Heartbreak when he made way for returning Test star Cameron Bancroft ahead of the final against Queensland.
Keen not to dwell on the negatives though, the right-hander intends to ensure history doesn’t repeat itself.
“I hadn’t had the worst season, but I got lots of starts without going on to make a score,” he outlined. "Bangers (Bancroft) came back from the test squad and he can keep, even if he doesn’t do it that often.
“The decision was made; some people agree some people don’t. But it was a really good reminder that when you get a start it’s important to go on and make the most of it.
He made his Western Australia debut in 2016-17
“I know if I’d made a few 80s, 90s, 100s it wouldn’t have been me missing out. It was a little bit of a wakeup call. The last thing I want to do is be left out of another final.”
After all his success in Sixers pink, it’s easy to forget that Philippe made his Big Bash debut for Scorchers back in 2017. But after just a solitary appearance in the orange jersey, he made the switch to Sydney.
It was a tough call but it’s clearly paid dividends. Reflecting on the move on a few years on Philippe explained that it arose more out of circumstance than anything else.
There’s no bad blood between the parties; it was simply a case of no room on Scorchers’ roster and him being offered the opportunity to keep wicket elsewhere.
“I made a few runs with WA in the one-dayers but they were a bit tied up with contracts. They didn’t have one for me. It was no one’s fault.
“The Sixers said we want you to keep as well. I think keeping is a great asset to my game. All the rep sides I got picked in were as a keeper, certainly not as a batter. I was quite a small kid who didn’t really hit it off the square!
“It felt like a really smart move to play and keep and play over in Sydney at SCG. That opportunity was too good to say no to.
“At the time it was an incredibly difficult decision. Looking back now it’s hard to believe it was so tough to make but obviously that comes from being a WA boy through and through and loving WA.”
The disruption caused by the current pandemic will, for some at least, throw open doors that otherwise might not have appeared. With the world T20 tournament due to take place this winter now postponed, Philippe could well be one of the beneficiaries.
For unrivalled coverage of the county season, subscribe to The Cricketer and receive four issues for £15
Welcome to www.thecricketer.com - the online home of the world’s oldest cricket magazine. Breaking news, interviews, opinion and cricket goodness from every corner of our beautiful sport, from village green to national arena.