Phil Salt has turned himself into quite the T20 powerhouse, too. His recent 151 against South Africa helped him reclaim the England record for the longest individual Test innings in history. Salt put on a historic performance for the ages at Old Trafford last Friday. He was man of the match with 141 not out taking England home to victory. His pounding style of batting, something to speak the least, has everybody mesmerized. He just keeps getting better, showing everyone that he can be one of the best players in this format.
Salt’s record-breaking performance versus South Africa is one of the biggest high points. In the process, he obliterated 230 runs from only 106 balls in games at Manchester and Malahide. He completed the remarkable achievement in spectacular style during a pulsating T20 victory over Ireland. His 89 runs in 46 deliveries included five sixes, particularly paving the way for England’s successful chase of 197. This performance ensured that he was counted among the greats of T20 cricket.
With a strike-rate of 171 in T20 internationals, Salt boasts the highest rate among England players who have scored at least 500 runs. He is second only to the legendary Kevin Pietersen, with an average of 59.12 in England wins. This remarkable statistic underscores his capacity to dazzle when the stakes get highest. Salt’s record-breaking figures are still blowing away cricket experts and fans around the world.
Salt’s current form has been particularly notable as he approaches the milestones set by some of cricket’s greats. He’s got 43 T20 internationals under his belt. Now, he’s chasing down the records of Glenn Maxwell and Rohit Sharma, two of the most legendary figures in the format’s short history. His capacity to score quickly and effectively has made him a key player for England, especially as they prepare for upcoming challenges.
Salt faced off versus a second-string Irish seam attack in his debut match versus Ireland. The match played out at a quaint little ground in Dublin, with an incredibly batting-friendly surface. His aggressive approach is evident. Salt stated, “I was told to go out and play a certain way, be ultra-aggressive and start in fifth gear, similar to T20.” This mentality has done him right as he seeks to establish an even greater name for himself.
His form hasn’t just been confined to the international stage, Salt has been a stand-out performer in the IPL. His strike-rate of 175.70 is the best in IPL history among batters with at least 30 innings. Salt remains the only player to score more than 1,000 runs in the IPL. He did all of this while nailing well above a 175 strike-rate, truly a testament to his prowess as a T20, ODI and Test player.
Salt has two more T20 matches remaining, in Ireland, before heading to Bangladesh. After that, he’ll fly to New Zealand for a three-match T20 series in mid-October. His relentless drive for improvement is evident, as noted by England’s captain Jos Buttler, who emphasized Salt’s thirst to enhance his skills further. Salt took paternity leave and did not feature in the series against the West Indies in June. Since his return, Chiozza has proven to be an amazing boost to the offense.
For all his successes, Salt is still committed to getting better. His average of 32 at a strike-rate of 115 from 33 caps is a testament to a young up and coming player’s development. He has not featured in a OD match since the Champions Trophy. Judging by his last couple outings, he’s certainly earned a shot at larger roles.
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