Stephen O'Keefe has heaped the ultimate praise on boom Sydney Sixers teammate Josh Philippe, comparing his batting to Australian star Steve Smith.
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Philippe blasted an effortless 64 off 36 balls in Wednesday's statement win over the Sydney Thunder, a knock which included seven boundaries and two sixes plus the plundering of 23 off one hapless Jono Cook over.
It added to an ever-building body of work Philippe has produced in his third season with the Sixers, which hasn't gone unnoticed by his teammates.
"Isn't he an absolute superstar the way he's performing at the moment," O'Keefe said.
"I've never met a [cricketer], maybe Steve Smith, the only cricketers that I've ever met, guys who just go out and play with absolute freedom.
"His head is so clear when he goes out to bat, some of his shots you just look at them and you just marvel at them.
"The way he works across the crease, his hands through the ball, sweeping spinners in the first over of the game. He's not just a one-trick pony, he can sweep hard, sweep in front of square leg, behind square leg."
It's Philippe's versatility with the bat that makes him so hard to bowl at. If he's not hurtling the ball towards a square boundary, he's blasting a spinner back down the ground - staying perfectly still all the while and remaining completely unflustered.
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The 23-year-old wicketkeeper joined the Sixers three seasons ago from the Perth Scorchers, and hasn't looked back.
"He's the best opening batsman we've had and he's only been here for three years," O'Keefe said.
"This has been a really tough time for all teams, and all players and all staff given the situation. No more so than him, I know he's missing his girlfriend back home but he's managed to pull all that together, get through, clear his head and go out and win us games of cricket."
James Buckley
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
