England and beyond: Phil Salt not content to wait for world domination

By Nick Howson

Some of life's good fortune is written the stars. Other aspects are just inevitable. So when Phil Salt wandered into a career guidance meeting as a teenage upstart, there was no surprise as to the avenue which best suited him. 

"I actually got professional athlete," he recalled to The Cricketer. "We had a careers day which I was over the moon about because it got me out of triple maths, or some absolute garbage. 

"I said I've got no interest in anything apart from sport and funnily enough it came up. All my other mates were coming out with town planner and councilor and all this garbage. I had a good laugh - mind you, they're probably working in the city earning a few bob. So who's laughing now?"

Four years into his professional career, Salt could well argue that he is still having the last laugh. He is one of the most exciting cricketers of his age on the circuit, a destructive opening batsman blessed with an old-school technique that is transferable across the formats. His career adviser mightn't have known it at the time but he is perfect for an era where you have to be all things to all people.

Central to that development has been a remarkable cricketing upbringing. Living in North Wales, Manchester City, rather than cricket, were the focus before his family moved to Barbados. His father Chris was a fleeting cricketer but his son's interest would blossom in the Caribbean.

And given the company he kept on the island in the Lesser Antilles, you can hardly blame Salt junior's vague interest turning into a full-blown obsession. Gordon Greenidge. Collis King. Philo Wallace. Alvin Greenidge. Sir Garry Sobers. It was quite the brains trust.

"Growing up in Barbados that molded me into the batter that I am today, that mentality to take the game on," explained Salt. "I had Philo Wallace as one of my coaches and I was very lucky to have some top, top coaches around me. I wasn't short of a bit of advice. I am very fortunate.

"I just played the game and enjoyed it. I was always given the backing to take the aggressive option and be positive as long as it was done my way. I wouldn't look to hit balls over cow corner in the first over of the game but I'd always look to drive hard and take the game on that way."

Upon returning to the United Kingdom, the Welshman won a scholarship to Reed's School in Cobham, linking up with Keith Medlycott who has previously toured with England and played 134 first-class matches for Surrey. The education continued.

One of the most important chapters on Salt's assent was part-written by Jason Gillespie. Coach for the last three years of Salt five as a professional at Sussex, the former Australian seamer has installed confidence and drive within the opener which he regularly exhibits at the crease.

"More than anything he's given me the belief to back myself," he said. "I've done a lot of hard work on my batting, my fielding, and my keeping and I've become a better all-round cricketer.

"He'll always give you honest feedback, he's seen a lot of cricket, coached a lot of cricket and more than anything he tells you what works and what doesn't and he's really clear."

Therefore, the news that Gillespie will depart Hove at the end of a truncated 2020 season is of major disappointment to Salt. 'Dizzy' has been named South Australia coach but the pair will likely still work together in the Big Bash League with Adelaide Strikers. "From a selfish point of view I'm gutted," he added.

Gillespie has helped turn Salt from a young prospect into an England hopeful. He earned a maiden international call-up at the start of last summer but missed out on selection against Pakistan in Cardiff. He was named as one of 55 players who returned to training at the start of this summer. Despite being moved into the enlarged white-ball group and making a century for England Lions, selection for the Ireland one-day international series evaded him, as did a role in the upcoming T20s against Pakistan. Outings against Australia next month will likely have to wait, too.

But Salt holds no grudges. Good things come to those who wait is an awkward cliche, but it rings true on this particular occasion.

"At first it is disappointing," he said. "When the squad comes out and you don't see your name there it is very easy to compare yourself to other people. 'How am I not in there over him?' 

"But at the end of the day when you get a setback like that, you have to look inwards. When the next squad comes out, how can I make it impossible for them not to pick me? That is the only way you can think. If you do that then in the long run you'll come out it on the right side more times than you don't.

"It is a strong playing group. Working with Tres (Marcus Trescothick), who is top draw, having Colly (Paul Collingwood) around. I asked Colly if I could do some fielding with him and I had a couple of drills in my head and Morgs (Eoin Morgan) said 'can I jump in?' It's cool stuff like that. And talking to Morgs about my fielding. It is small things like that and that is when you get the golden information."

Even if England are yet to be fully convinced, overseas Salt is starting to build a reputation. Contracts in the Pakistan Super League, Caribbean Premier League, the Abu Dhabi T20, and the aforementioned BBL are already under his belt all before the age of 24.

The likes of Harry Gurney, Richard Gleeson, and Laurie Evans are all carving out decent careers on the franchise carousel without being given proper England attention - so would Salt be content with a career on that particular rung of the ladder? 

"I just want to play for England," Salt stated. "Growing up it is all you think about. The goalposts have never moved for me since I was a kid. Playing for England would be No.1.

"You always want to play the best cricket that is available. When drafts happen, you want to be the name that gets picked up. I just want to play the best level of cricket. If England are going on a tour then I want to be on that tour. 

"If there is going to be a draft for BBL, PSL, then I want to be in that draft. Franchise cricket is great and you learn a lot but international cricket is the pinnacle I think. Everyone knows that."

One theme running through Salt's career is an insatiable desire to better himself, leaving no stone unturned in an effort to squeeze every sinew from his god-given talent. Alongside his Caribbean upbringing and franchise experiences, he is still willing to do the hard yards - taking himself off to Mumbai before the Abu Dhabi T20 in 2018 to learn how to play against spin. It paid dividends, as he led Lahore Qalandars to the title with 78 runs across three innings.

"I've always had that tunnel vision of being the best that I can be. Nothing has really changed. I've always had that desire and drive to get there.

"One of the biggest things you can have in your armory as a batter is being adaptable. Being able to play in different conditions, sum them up quickly, and change your game plan accordingly. If you're going to be successful and score a lot runs it is important to play in different conditions and be adaptable."

Salt's ability to adapt is no better exemplified by his start against the less-favoured Dukes ball in the Bob Willis Trophy. Three half-centuries have been delivered with the same panache as his one-day knocks. It might be a small sample size, but there is evidence he can be both selective and destructive against the red-ball. That development is also worth keeping an eye on.

The late summer and early autumn brings a return of the trusty white-ball in the form of the T20 Blast, a competition the Sharks have only reached the final of once since their only win in 2009. A second title would be a fitting way to mark Gillespie's departure. And as with everything about Salt's career, there is a feeling of destiny about it.

This article originally featured in The Cricketer. For unrivalled coverage of the county season, subscribe to The Cricketer and receive four issues for £15