When you sit with Phillips his attributes are obvious.
Bulging forearms, broad shoulders, huge thighs and a stocky frame all help him cover ground at speed, throw and leap from a low centre of gravity. He has also spoken about embracing being diagnosed with ADHD.
But Phillips, who was born in South Africa before moving to New Zealand with his family aged five, is not happy to settle with what he has been given physically.
The 28-year-old is a studier of the mechanics of fielding. He watches the NFL and, in particular, baseball for theories of how he can push those limits.
He practises throwing with his non-dominant left arm and tests different ways to collect the ball in the field, like picking up with his left hand and throwing with his right and vice versa to maintain momentum through the ball.
“In baseball, it’s significantly quicker to pick it up on the move on your mitt side, carry on through the ball and then throw,” Phillips says.
“Obviously that provides a lot of momentum and power. That becomes slightly difficult when you’ve got bare hands.
“I’m yet to find out whether there is actually a difference in it. I’ve used it in a game a couple of times and it’s felt really cool.”
Those that know Phillips describe him as one of those people that is good at everything.
Electric in the field, he is also a hard-hitting batter, bowls canny off-spin and has even been wicketkeeper at international level, something he has now stopped because “there was no ability to move, no running, no diving and no ability to do something special unless the ball comes your way in your one specific spot”.
Phillips has also taken up archery, which he believes helps his cricket.
“The element that I’ve taken out of that is being more process driven,” he says.
“Obviously, baseball, I’ve seen the fielding element of it. Golf, the real patience side of things.
“But then archery is a real process-driven sport where if you focus on trying to hit the target, it often doesn’t really work.
“If you focus on doing the things that you can do well, that being the process, the end result takes care of itself.”
Phillips believes New Zealand’s fielding gives them “an edge in big tournaments” – they have reached a fourth men’s white-ball final since 2015 here – but is also able to see the big picture when showing off his art.
“If it’s a little thing I can do to give back to the cricket community and inspire the next generation to enjoy fielding rather than wanting to just sit on the sidelines and just bat and bowl, I think that’s something that I’d be really happy to come out of this game with one day,” Phillips says.
Phillips hopes to be flying the skies after retirement. Perhaps others will follow his lead on the field.
