Josh Philippe, 23, is becoming one of Australia’s best wicketkeeper batsmen.
In the last month alone, he was named in Australia’s ODI and T20I Squad against England and was drafted by the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL for $41,000.
Throughout this year, he has begun to make a name for himself around the world. To understand his journey here’s a look at four of his most defining games in the last three years.
November 4-5, 2017
WACA XI against England
As England were getting geared up for their upcoming 0:4 defeat in the Ashes, they played against a WACA XI in an official Cricket Australia 2-day tour game.
The WACA XI was led by Nathan Coulter-Nile and consisted of players who, at the time, were either good first grade players or Western Australia second-team players looking to secure their name in the Western Australia state cricket system.
Some of these names included now Big Bash signed Clint Hinchliffe, Lance Morris, Tim David, Aaron Hardie and Josh Philippe.
Opening the batting, Philippe scored 88 off 92 and led his team to a draw. Another thing to note was that Josh Philippe was a specialist batsman in this game, with Western Australia Country XI keeper Calum How taking the gloves.
This shows that Philippe went from being the second best keeper in WA’s second team to the third best white-ball keeper in the entire country in only three years.
Josh Philippe (Brett Hemmings – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
October 16-19, 2018
WA against Victoria in Sheffield Shield
In Round 1 of the 2018-19 Sheffield Shield season, Philippe came into bat at six in both of WA’s innings. Similar to the WACA XI match, he played as a specialist batsman with Josh Inglis being the first choice wicketkeeper.
In this game, Philippe showed his versatility as a batsman with a quick-fire 41 off 27 in the first innings and 104 off 142 in the second. To this day, this is Philippe’s only century playing for Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield.
October 31, 2018
Cricket Australia XI against South Africa
To get South Africa ready for their ODI series with Australia, they faced off against the Cricket Australia XI at Manuka Oval. Philippe kept in this match-up and played his part in four dismissals with zero byes.
Batting wise, Philippe held his own against a star-studded line-up consisting of Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada and Lungisani Ngidi. Josh Philippe got 57 off 53, leading the Cricket Australia XI to a win and himself to a man of the match award.
February 18, 2020
Sydney Sixers against the Melbourne Stars in the BBL|09 Final
Having only previously won one Big Bash, the Sixers were up against last-year’s runners-up, the Melbourne Stars.
Sydney batted first with Philippe and England international James Vince opening together. Philippe scored 52 off only 29 balls and let no byes through when keeping. Despite Sydney ending with 116/5, they ended up winning the game with Josh Philippe earning a much-deserved Player of the Match Award.
Spanner
Roar Rookie
We shall agree to disagree, comrade but you can get set with me on Carey being our country's next keeper. Also, as Phillipe is a sandgroper he is already "fast tracked" !
Paul
Roar Guru
The only spots likely to be up for grabs in any of the Aussie sides, for a guy like Philippe, are down the order. I agree it's not likely his BBL franchise would want him to bat lower than about 3, but certainly WA Shield team should bat him down the list and if he does enough in short form cricket to warrant selection, maybe Langer could try him out at 5 or 6, regardless where he plays in the BBL.
Tom
He bats down the order in the shield, but obviously at the top of the order in the One dayers and for the sixers. I Wonder how happy they’d be if he was to ask them if he could bat down the order? I think it could definitely be in the national teams interest for guys like Philippe to learn to bat down the order in the BBL seeing as those are they are the less set in stone positions, but not sure if the BBL teams would be thrilled.
Paul
Roar Guru
Then Philippe will struggle to impress, won't he, unless of course WA play him as a lower order batsman and he does well?
Tom
He won't keep in the shield for WA. Josh Inglis is the best gloveman in the country after Paine and easily gets that spot for WA.
Paul
Roar Guru
Sorry, but I've no idea how you decided I was suggesting Phillipe be fast tracked? I was thinking and writing quite the reverse. "Now he needs to show selectors he can string game after game together with gloves and bat." "he might be better served aiming to have a standout Shield season." Carey is not the next cab off the rank for the Tests by any stretch. He's got to do exactly the same as Phillipe does, make a name for himself as a red ball cricketer, A batting average of 33.75 in FC gmaes suggests he's got plenty of eork to do.
Spanner
Roar Rookie
Oh oh, another West Australian to be fast tracked - puhlease ! Let him become a shield player first and then lets see what happens. Carey is next cab off the rank by a country mile !
Paul
Roar Guru
There's no doubt about Phillipe's talent. Now he needs to show selectors he can string game after game together with gloves and bat. He may need to make a call on whether he wants to aim for the Australian white ball or Test team. Tim Paine can't go on for ever and with some pretty stiff competition from Alex Carey for the short form keepers spot, he might be better served aiming to have a standout Shield season.