Sydney Sixers opener Josh Philippe is being backed to enjoy a substantial international career after his latest top-order heroics in the Big Bash League.
The 23-year-old scored a quickfire 41 off 24 balls in a man-of-the-match display to get the Sixers off to a perfect start as they successfully chased 150 against the Adelaide Strikers on Sunday.
Philippe’s innings, which included five fours and one six, moves him to the top of the runscoring charts for this summer’s tournament with 261 from seven innings.
It’s form which Sixers’ captain Daniel Hughes is certain will lead to an Australian call-up in the future for the wicketkeeper-batsman.
“He is a star,” Hughes said.
“I don’t think it’ll be too long before he’s in the short form for Australia.
“He’s just going to keep getting better and better.”
Philippe is clearly on the radar of national selectors after travelling to England last year as part of Australia’s limited-overs squad, following a man-of-the-match performance in last year’s BBL final.
He didn’t play on that tour but given his 360-degree range of shots and an increasing maturity at the crease, Hughes is expecting that trip to be just the beginning of Philippe’s international journey.
“He’s got all the tools there. It’s just being smart with them, and he’s learning that along the way,” Hughes said.
“It won’t be long until he’s there.”
© AAP
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