Phil Salt: From Struggles to Stardom as a Leading T20 Opener

Phil Salt’s journey to becoming one of the top Twenty20 openers in the world is a testament to his resilience and adaptability, showcased brilliantly in his unbeaten 87-run performance against the West Indies. Just last August, Salt risked becoming another case of unfulfilled potential, akin to Mark Ramprakash—a player who dominated domestic cricket but failed to replicate that success on the international stage.

At the age of 27, Salt faced a career crossroads. He was dropped from England’s T20 squad for the series against New Zealand, a move he found difficult to argue against. In his 16 T20 internationals for England up to that point, Salt had an average of just 22, despite a notable strike rate of 149. His tendency to get out early—being dismissed within six balls in most of his T20I innings—left England believing they had other players who could match his explosiveness while providing more stability at the crease.

Fast-forward less than a year, and Salt has transformed into one of the world's premier T20 openers. His remarkable performance in the Indian Premier League, where he amassed 435 runs at an average of 39.6 and a strike rate of 182, set the stage for his resurgence. Even more impressive has been his performance for England since his recall for the Caribbean tour late last year. In 12 games, he has averaged 59.6 with a strike rate of 184, transitioning from merely setting up games to decisively winning them. His unbeaten 87 in the T20 World Cup against the West Indies came on the heels of consecutive centuries against the same team in December.

Salt's elevation in the T20 format is a story of both physical and mental evolution. Physically, he sought to increase his power through a rigorous regime, consulting with Lancashire in September to develop more strength from his 5ft 10in the frame. "I wanted to make myself stronger, quicker, and bigger," Salt shared about his training, which included a more intense gym routine and a diet of 3,500 calories a day. This effort resulted in him gaining only three kilograms but becoming significantly more adept at clearing the boundary. Prior to bulking up, he hit one six every 19 balls in T20Is; after his transformation, he has hit 33 sixes in 292 deliveries—one every nine balls.

However, the more significant change in Salt’s game has been strategic. Previously, he treated every bowler with equal aggression, often burning out after the Powerplay. His approach lacked adjustment when field restrictions were lifted, leading to frequent dismissals by lofted shots landing in fielders' hands. 

Now, Salt employs a more nuanced strategy. While he still maximises the fielding restrictions during the Powerplay—taking England to 58 without loss after six overs by hitting a six off the last ball—he has learned to temper his aggression as the innings progresses. When Jos Buttler was dismissed in the eighth over, Salt recognised the need to play the anchor role, focusing on maintaining his wicket and pacing his innings. "I was always going to play the anchor role," he reflected. "It was about me just batting through that period and waiting for my time to strike."

Salt’s calculated aggression was on full display during the 16th over of the innings against West Indies, bowled by Romario Shepherd. By hammering 30 runs off that over, Salt ensured not only England’s victory but also a significant boost to their net run rate.

His approach mimicked the classic West Indian T20 strategy of alternating between cautious and aggressive phases. This method focuses on mitigating risks against tougher bowlers while capitalising on favourable matchups. Salt's clinical innings in St Lucia demonstrated this strategy perfectly. Against the formidable West Indies spinners, he scored a steady 30 from 27 balls. In contrast, against the pacers, he was much more aggressive, smashing 57 from just 20 balls.

Understanding and exploiting ground conditions is another facet Salt has mastered, a principle emphasised by England’s consultant Kieron Pollard. In St Lucia, the difference between the longer and shorter boundaries, exacerbated by a north-eastern breeze, played a crucial role in Salt’s tactics. He scored a modest 27 runs off 22 balls when batting into the wind towards the longer boundary. Conversely, when hitting with the wind towards the shorter boundary, he thumped 60 off just 25 balls, demonstrating his astute game awareness

This blend of strategic acumen and raw power underpinned the West Indies’ World Cup victories in 2012 and 2016, a style of play that former captain and current head coach Daren Sammy would have recognised. The greatest tribute to Salt’s innings might be that it reflected the influence of Pollard, a player renowned for his T20 expertise and his 16 title victories.

Salt's transformation from a player struggling to make his mark internationally to one of the leading T20 openers highlights the power of adaptation and perseverance. His journey serves as an inspiring narrative of how embracing both physical enhancement and strategic refinement can lead to success at the highest levels of cricket.