He began his first-class career aged 19 in 1939–40, the last South African season before the Second World War intervened.
[2] During the war Phillips served with the South African forces in North Africa and was captured at Tobruk.
[4] He finished the summer with 531 runs at an average of 59.00 and was widely considered to be unlucky to miss out on the 1947 tour of England.
[3] His form was more moderate thereafter, although he was included in the Cape Province team that played against the touring MCC in 1948–49, a virtual Test trial.
[3][5] He had one further bowling success, when he took the last six North Eastern Transvaal wickets to fall in a Currie Cup match in 1950–51, finishing with figures of 6 for 36.