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The three-match Test series between England and New Zealand reached fever pitch at The Oval in London during the second Test, which commenced on June 17, 2026. With the hosts holding a 1-0 lead, the Black Caps faced a must-win situation to keep the series alive. What followed over five days of intense red-ball cricket was a masterclass in resilience, tactical ingenuity, and supreme bowling. While the scoreboard reflects a historic victory for New Zealand, one particular moment on Day 1 captured the imagination of cricket fans worldwide: Glenn Phillips walking out to bat against a fiery Jofra Archer sporting sunglasses.
Glenn Phillips opens up on his decision to wear sunglasses against Jofra Archer in the second Test
In the first innings, with New Zealand navigating a tricky middle-order rebuild, Phillips played a magnificent, rescue-act knock of 100 off 135 balls. However, it wasn’t just his elegant strokeplay that trended across social media, but his choice of eyewear while facing deliveries exceeding 140 km/h from Archer. Facing one of the world’s most intimidating fast bowlers in shades is rare in Test cricket, and Phillips later revealed it was a matter of pure survival rather than a fashion statement.
“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,” Phillips stated in a press conference.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, the Kiwi star explained that glare from the London sight screen was severely impacting his vision. Squinting into the sun against an on-song Archer was a recipe for disaster. Phillips joked that the choice was simple: wear the glasses to save his wicket, or risk getting hurt. He admitted his eyes are incredibly sensitive to harsh light, a vulnerability that has cost him his wicket in the past. Recalling similar lighting issues he faced domestically in Dunedin, Phillips noted that swallowing his pride and putting on the sunglasses gave him the absolute best chance to see the ball clearly and protect himself against Archer’s blistering pace.
“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. So… 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 added.
Here’s the video:
🔴 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
Also READ: Ben Stokes, Gus Atkinson return as England name squad for 3rd Test against New Zealand
New Zealand crush England to level the series 1-1 with a commanding victory
The Black Caps translated that individual clarity into a collective triumph, steamrolling England by 253 runs to draw level in the series. Batting first, New Zealand posted a strong 391, anchored by Phillips’ century and supported by Devon Conway‘s 91 and Tom Blundell‘s gritty 51. Jacob Bethell was the pick of the English bowlers, snapping up 3 for 26. In reply, England’s first innings stuttered to 291 despite fighting half-centuries from Emilio Gay (53) and Matthew Fisher (50*). Speedster Matt Henry tore through the lineup, claiming an exceptional 5 for 80.
Holding a 100-run lead, New Zealand consolidated their dominance in the second innings by racking up 362 runs. Nicholls led the charge with a sublime 121, while Rachin Ravindra (76) and Daryl Mitchell (68) frustrated the English attack. Chasing a mammoth target of 463 runs, England’s batting collapsed dramatically in the fourth innings under relentless pressure. Apart from captain Joe Root’s resilient 77 and Harry Brook’s rapid 58, the rest of the batting order crumbled.
Henry turned destroyer-in-chief once again, taking a spectacular 6 for 29 in the final innings to finish with match figures of 11 for 109. Kyle Jamieson chipped in with 3 for 61 as England were bundled out for just 209 runs on Day 5, sealing an emphatic, series-levelling win for the visitors.
Also READ: Fans react as Matt Henry sizzles in New Zealand’s commanding win over England in the 2nd Test
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: crickettimes.com
