The Cricket Mentoring Podcast · Cricket Mentoring

Josh Philippe: Moving states & What it's like to bat with Steve Smith

·43 min·4 clips

Josh Philippe describes how Virat Kohli would already be in the gym for hours before others arrived.

This episode of The Cricket Mentoring Podcast features host Ian "Colesy" Cole in conversation with professional cricketer Josh Philippe. Philippe, a wicketkeeper-batter, reflects on his career and a significant personal decision. The discussion centers on Philippe's recent choice to leave his home state of Western Australia to join the New South Wales cricket team. Philippe details the emotional difficulty of leaving his family, friends, and a highly successful WA squad behind. He explains that the move is driven by his desire for a new challenge and to rediscover his best form after feeling he hasn't fully realized his potential in recent years. The host lists Philippe's numerous accomplishments since 2018, including playing for Australia, winning Big Bash titles with the Sydney Sixers, and participating in the IPL. Philippe admits that hearing these achievements listed is special, as he hadn't fully reflected on them himself. He describes the constant challenge for a professional athlete of balancing ambition and gratitude, noting it's easy to always feel you should be performing better. A significant portion of the conversation explores the technical and mental aspects of Philippe's game. He discusses the difficulty of transitioning between cricket formats, particularly from T20 to four-day cricket, and admits he is still learning how to manage this. Philippe outlines his pre-game routine for a Big Bash match, which involves sleeping late, getting coffee, and deliberately avoiding thinking about cricket until he arrives at the ground. His preparation focuses on ensuring nothing surprises him during the match, so he reviews minimal footage of unfamiliar bowlers. He shares insights from his time with Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, where he observed Virat Kohli's incredible training intensity and competitive drive. Philippe also discusses batting alongside Steve Smith, praising Smith's deep understanding of his own game and his ability to bat himself into form through extensive practice. The episode touches on Philippe's experience in the inaugural US Major League Cricket, where an injury limited his playing time but allowed him to observe the high standard of play. His decision to move to New South Wales is partly influenced by his existing relationships with coach Greg "Shippy" Shippard and players like Moises Henriques, who will provide a familiar environment. Away from cricket, Philippe reveals he has resumed studying for a commerce degree online, which is teaching him time management skills. The tone is relaxed, conversational, and educational, offering a behind-the-scenes look at a professional cricketer's mindset. This episode would appeal to aspiring cricketers interested in the mental and logistical aspects of a professional career, as well as fans of domestic Australian cricket. Listeners seeking highly technical analysis or debate on broader cricket issues might find it less engaging.

As heard by us

A practical look at preparation, freshness, and the habits that support cleaner ball striking.

The piece is at its best when it stays with preparation: knowing scoring zones, keeping game-day hitting short enough to stay fresh, and giving each session a clear purpose.

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Why you'd press play

Listen for Josh Philippe's game-day batting routine, how he keeps his prep short, and what he checks before he walks out.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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