Weight of runs has Philippe eyeing super season

If you thought Josh Philippe's two previous KFC BBL seasons were good, this one could be off the charts.

The young, aggressive right-handed opener comes into BBL|11 averaging 25 runs more in state cricket than in the lead-up to his previous two campaigns.

The 24-year-old is in a rich vein of form this summer having scored 687 runs at 52.8 in his 15 innings at domestic level so far this season, including centuries in both the Marsh Sheffield Shield and Marsh One-Day Cup.

In the lead up to BBL|09, Philippe had only scored 383 at 27.4 across the two domestic formats, while heading into BBL|10 a stint in the IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore clashed with the start of the domestic season.

While it was undoubtedly a great learning opportunity for the young West Australian alongside the likes of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, his playing time was limited and he was restricted to just 78 runs from five innings, which was his only cricket leading into the Big Bash.

But in both those subsequent BBL campaigns, Philippe hit around 500 runs at the top of the order to help lead Sydney Sixers to back-to-back titles.

Sign up for BKT Big Bash Tipping this season at tipping.cricket.com.au! Go for the major prize or join a league and take on your friends, family and colleagues.

In BBL|09 he struck 487 runs at 37.46, but it was last year that was arguably his best season, finishing as the competition's third-leading scorer for the second straight year with 508 runs at a phenomenal strike rate of 149, including a highest score of 95 against the Melbourne Renegades.

It's form Philippe is hoping to capitalise on as he spearheads the Sydney Sixers' assault for a historic three-peat at the top of the order with English star James Vince.

"I think it's the first season I have come in with a bit of runs behind me so it's certainly a nice feeling," Philippe told cricket.com.au.

"It's great to be back, I love this time of year, it's always good fun.

"It's awesome (batting with James Vince). He's a very experienced player now and he's got a very cool head on him as well. 

"We've had some great partnerships along the way and hopefully we can build a bit more this year."

When asked what had spurred his great run of form this season, Philippe said a "couple of little technical things" but mostly it was a thirst to bat for long periods of time.

"Really there's just been as big a focus on my routines and just trying to have a consistent plan that can essentially set me up to bat for a long period of time," he said.

And with regular Western Australia wicketkeeper Josh Inglis away with the victorious T20 World Cup squad, Philippe has also embraced the consistent time behind the stumps.

"I always think that when I'm keeping, I seem to make a lot more runs," he said.

"I've really enjoyed the consistent opportunity, it's been good to get some Shield games under the belt with the gloves and the one-dayers, I think it's a big area in my game."

And now he's pumped to be back at the Sixers as part of a formidable batting line-up that puts Philippe and Vince with the likes of Daniel Hughes, Moises Henriques, Dan Christian and Jordan Silk.

"It's just an exciting feeling to all be back … it's the same as it's been in the last few years with Shippy (coach Greg Shipperd) and Mo (Henriques), it's very calm and a lot of clarity around how we want to play and what we want to do," he said.

Coming off a year where he made both his ODI and T20I debuts, Philippe said he would try to capitalise on his run of form to push for a recall to the national side for white ball series against New Zealand and Sri Lanka at the end of the summer.

"It's certainly a goal for me, but I'm just going to really focus on being present and really performing well for the Sixers and also any other opportunities I get and not too far ahead," he said.

"Hopefully I can come out, make some runs and put my name up for another potential opportunity."

The Sixers open their BBL|11 campaign against the Melbourne Stars at the SCG tonight, from 7.35pm, on Seven, Foxtel and Kayo Sports.

Sydney Sixers squad: Moises Henriques (c), Sean Abbott, Dan Christian, Tom Curran (ENG), Jack Edwards, Mickey Edwards, Daniel Hughes, Chris Jordan (ENG), Hayden Kerr, Ben Maneti, Steve O'Keefe, Josh Philippe (wk), Lloyd Pope, Jordan Silk, James Vince, Nick Winter.

Melbourne Stars squad: Glenn Maxwell (c), Hilton Cartwright, Joe Clarke (ENG), Brody Crouch, Sam Elliott, Syed Faridoun (PAK), Clint Hinchliffe, Nick Larkin, Peter Nevill, Tom O'Connell, Sam Rainbird, Marcus Stoinis, Beau Webster, Adam Zampa.

Sign up for BKT Big Bash Tipping this season at tipping.cricket.com.au! Go for the major prize or join a league and take on your friends, family and colleagues.