A three-match Test series England and New Zealand It reached a fever pitch during the second Test starting on 17 June 2026 at The Oval in London. With the hosts leading 1-0, the Black Caps faced a must-win situation to keep the series alive. Over five days of intense red-ball cricket was followed by a master class in endurance, tactical ingenuity and high bowling. While the scoreboard reflected a historic victory for New Zealand, one particular moment on Day 1 captured the imagination of cricket fans around the world: Glenn Phillips to bat against a fireman Jofra Archer sports sunglasses.
Glenn Phillips reveals his decision to wear sunglasses against Jofra Archer in the second Test
In the first innings, as New Zealand navigated a difficult middle-order rebuild, Phillips produced a magnificent, life-saving 100 from 135 balls. However, it was not just his elegant strokeplay that trended on social media, but also his choice of spectacles when facing a 140 kmph delivery from Archer. Facing one of the world’s most feared fast bowlers in Test cricket is rare, and Phillips later revealed it was more a matter of survival than a fashion statement.
“I mean, when you look at the vision screen like that (squints), 140 km/h is pretty fast. 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’s up my head and the other one’s down,” Phillips said at a press conference.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, the Kiwi star explained that the glare from London’s viewing screen was seriously affecting his vision. Glaring at the sun against a singing Archer was a recipe for disaster. Phillips joked that the choice was simple: wear glasses to save the door or risk damage. He admitted that his eyes are incredibly sensitive to harsh light, a weakness that has hurt him in the past. Recalling similar lighting problems he faced cross-country in Dunedin, Phillips noted that swallowing his pride and wearing sunglasses gave him the best chance of seeing the ball clearly and fending off Archer’s pace.
“We have a very similar side screen in Dunedin, so it’s not the first time I’ve batted with sunglasses on. But my eyes are very sensitive to light. So … I’ve been bowled a few times because I didn’t wear sunglasses and it took a bit of my pride, put them on, see the ball and give myself a good chance.” he added.
We present the video:
🔴 JOFRA ARCHER DON’T SCARED 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 I meet someone like Archer at 140km/h, I’m more… pic.twitter.com/7ABD527WUw
— Sam (@cricsam02) June 21, 2026
Also READ: Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson return to name the England squad for the 3rd Test against New Zealand.
New Zealand defeated England and won 1-1
The Black Caps turned that individual clearness into a collective triumph, beating England by 253 runs to level the series. First, New Zealand posted a strong 391, supported and supported by Phillips’ century. Devon Conway91 and Tom Blundell51. Jacob Bethell He was the pick of the English bowlers, taking 3 for 26. In reply, England’s first innings reached 291 despite a struggling half-century. Emilio Gay (53) and Matthew Fisher (50*). Speedster Matt Henry He smashed the order by claiming an exceptional 5 for 80.
Having a lead of 100 runs, New Zealand consolidated their lead by scoring 362 runs in the second innings. Nicholls led the charge with a lofty 121 Rachin Ravindra (76) and Daryl Mitchell (68) Broke the British attack. Chasing a mammoth target of 463 runs, England’s batting collapsed dramatically in the fourth innings under relentless pressure. Except for the captain Joe Root‘s continuous 77 and Harry Brooke‘s quick 58, the rest of the batting order collapsed.
Henry turned the destroyer again, taking a magnificent 6 for 29 in the last over to finish with match figures of 109 for 11. Kyle Jamieson England took 3 for 61 as they were bundled out for just 209 on Day 5, giving the visitors a tight, series-levelling win.
Also READ: Matt Henry Fans react to New Zealand’s win over England in the 2nd Test.
