Phil Salt’s Caribbean journey and how it changed his love from football to cricket

From young to experienced, many are set to play their first T20 World Cup when action gets underway Down Under. Before the first ball is bowled, Firstpost.com brings to you FirstCup – a special series where we chart journeys of T20 World Cup debutants.

Phil Salt came under the spotlight in the recent seven-match T20I Series against Pakistan where he smashed the Pakistan bowlers into bits and pieces in the sixth T20I with a blistering 88* of 41 deliveries.

He made his England debut more than a year back in 2021 in a Covid-hit ODI series in June 2021. He also hit a half-century back then, following proper destruction of the bowlers in the series against the Netherlands, amassing 248 runs in three innings. He hit a brilliant 122 in the first ODI when England brought ODI records to their knees with 498 runs in the first innings.

Salt also hit a half-century in his debut T20I against West Indies and added taste to his international career straight away.

The Caribbean ride

Salt was born in Wales. But his subsequent upbringing was in the Caribbean in Barbados. The Caribbean environment swiftly changed his mind from football to cricket. He was a Manchester City fan back in England and had grown up watching them, but moving base to Barbados inspired him to play cricket.

.@PhilSalt1 was on a rampage in the run-chase against Pakistan in the 6th T20I