Opinion
Following Western Australia’s record-breaking domestic season, Josh Philippe is set to make his return to the UK cricket scene for the first time since 2017.
After a successful season for WA, having scored 746 runs at 37.30 in the One Day Cup and Sheffield Shield combined, Philippe is set to join Sussex for both the upcoming County Championship and the Vitality Blast.
Philippe will join the side in June as an international duty replacement for Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan.
Having progressed through the ranks in WA’s underage teams and in WACA Premier cricket for Bayswater-Morley, in 2016, 19-year-old Philippe took his talents to Taunton Cricket Club in Somerset. Batting in the top order, Philippe impressed with 614 runs at 38.38 in 16 innings. This included a 68-run third-wicket partnership with future Brisbane Heat overseas batsman Tom Abell, against Bristol CC.
The following winter, Philippe again played in the UK, this time with Newcastle Cricket Club in the North East Premier League. In league and cup games together, Philippe dominated with 1314 runs at 59.73, including five centuries and a further six 50s. He also contributed heavily behind the stumps, taking 42 catches and nine stumpings for Newcastle. These performances soon attracted Durham CCC, who selected him in 2017 for their County 2nd XI.
At this time, state selectors and coaches back home finally decided to take notice. As a result, Philippe’s 2017 winter in Durham was cut short, due to an invitation for WA’s pre-season intra-squad matches.
Unfortunately, Philippe found himself receiving little time in starting XIs, with his only chance to bat occurring at 11 in the last intra-squad match.
Josh Phillippe keeps his eye on the ball during the 50 over Australia Inter-Squad Warm Up Match at Ageas Bowl on August 30, 2020 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images)
Reflecting on this time, Philippe exclaimed, “I was spewing by this point, and not terribly impressed.”
Despite this, he made the most of the opportunity and left the coaches shocked with a rapid-fire display of boundaries.
At the start of the competitive domestic season, Philippe found himself opening the batting for WA’s 2nd XI. In Round 1 against Tasmania, he flourished with 93 off 88 and 64 off 70, leading his home state to a resounding victory.
In preparation for their upcoming Ashes series, in November 2017, England geared up to play against the WACA XI, which was Led by Nathan Coulter-Nile and consisted of players who, at the time, were either good first-grade players or WA second-team players looking to secure their name in the first team. Philippe was picked in the side as an opening batsman, with WA Country XI’s Calum How taking the gloves.
Against England’s fast-bowling attack of Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Chris Woakes, Craig Overton and Jake Ball, Philippe scored a quick-fire 88 off 92 and led his team to a draw.
Philippe went on to make his WA first-team debut in Round 7 of the 2017-18 Sheffield Shield and hasn’t looked back since.
Without his first trips to England, it’s likely that he wouldn’t have debuted for WA so early in his career, let alone be selected to bat three for Australia at 23.
His much-awaited return to England represents a full-circle moment in his career and one that will, no doubt, motivate him even further.
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