New Zealand batter Glenn Phillips became one of the biggest talking points of the second Test against England at The Oval after he walked out to bat wearing sunglasses while facing the express pace of Jofra Archer. The unusual sight quickly went viral on social media, with fans wondering why Phillips chose to wear shades against one of the fastest bowlers in world cricket.
The incident came during a memorable Test for New Zealand, who bounced back from their defeat at Lord’s to secure a dominant 253-run victory over England and level the three-match series at 1-1. Phillips played a crucial role in the win, scoring a brilliant century in the first innings and helping the visitors seize control of the contest.
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Following the match, Phillips was asked about his decision to wear sunglasses while facing Archer, who consistently bowled at speeds exceeding 140 km/h. The Kiwi star explained that the issue had nothing to do with intimidation and everything to do with visibility.
“I mean, when you’re looking at the sight screen like this (squints his eyes), 140 km/h is pretty quick. So I’d rather see the ball at 140 km/h than have a big glare in my eyes and not see it. So one keeps my head on and the other keeps my head off,” Glenn Phillips joked during the post-match press conference.
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The 29-year-old went on to reveal that he has long struggled with sensitivity to bright light, a problem that has affected him during batting in the past. According to Phillips, the glare from the sight screen was making it difficult to pick up the ball, forcing him to put practicality ahead of appearance.
“We have a side screen very similar to it in Dunedin, so it’s not the first time I’ve batted with sunglasses. But my eyes are very sensitive to the light. I’ve been bowled out a few times not using the sunglasses, and it’s a little bit of swallow my pride, put them on, see the ball and actually give myself a good chance,” he explained.
🔴 JOFRA ARCHER DOESN’T SCARE ME – GLENN PHILLIPS ON WHY HE WEARS SUNGLASSES 🤯
Q🎙️: Why do you wear sunglasses while batting, even in international matches?
Phillips🎙️: “My eyes are very sensitive to bright light. When you’re facing someone like Archer at 140 km/h, I’d rather… pic.twitter.com/7ABD527WUw
— Sam (@cricsam02) June 21, 2026
Phillips’ century proved vital in New Zealand’s impressive victory. The visitors then completed the job with the ball, dismissing England for just 209 in the fourth innings. Fast bowler Matt Henry starred with a sensational match haul of 11 wickets, earning the Player of the Match award and helping New Zealand level the series ahead of the decisive third Test.
