Sanju and Saly, the Samson brothers, will play together for the first time in their competitive cricket careers during the upcoming Kerala Cricket League (KCL).
Kochi Blue Tigers (KBT) signed the duo at the auction earlier this year and they will start their season 2 campaign on Thursday, August 21, against the Adani Trivandrum Royals.
As teams prepare for the new season, Saly Samson expressed his admiration for New Zealand star Glenn Phillips and praised his all-round skills.
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The elder of the Samson brothers, who was picked in the auction for Rs. 75,000 has also spoken about the qualities he likes in a cricketer.
Who is Saly Samson's favourite cricketer?
Speaking on the Kochi Blue Tigers YouTube channel, the 34-year-old Saly revealed that Glenn Phillips was his favourite cricketer. He noted that Phillips' all-around versatility on the cricket field, whether as a batter, fielder, bowler, or wicket-keeper, makes him stand out.
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According to Saly, the Kiwi player is not a normal all-rounder but someone who covers every aspect of the game.
"I don't have an idol in cricket, but I like players who can do everything and cover all aspects of the game. One such player I like is Glenn Phillips. He is not a normal allrounder, he is proper - he wicketkeeps, bowls and bats well."
The 28-year-old Kiwi star is widely known for his swashbuckling batting lower down the order, and his record speaks for itself.
What is Glenn Phillips' record in international cricket?
In 44 ODIs, he has scored 1112 runs, but apart from his five fifties and a hundred, he has played some crucial match-turning cameos.
During New Zealand's recent Test tour of India, the Blackcaps heavily used his bowling to exploit the spinning wickets in India as New Zealand defeated the hosts 3-0.
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Despite primarily being a wicketkeeper, he has often showcased his bowling skills and has a five-fer in Tests against Australia.
In his career, he has 31 Test wickets, 15 ODI wickets, and 6 T20I wickets, along with one of the most impressive collection of catches, which highlights his elite athleticism as a cricketer.