England speedster Tymal Mills is ready to fight fire with fire during the upcoming T20 series in India.
Mills is one of the fastest bowlers on the planet – just ask Chris Gayle whose stumps were flattened by a 93mph yorker last summer.
England will be hoping their specialist T20 bowler can produce more of the same against India’s much-vaunted batting line-up, which fired spectacularly during their 2-1 ODI series win.
“With the new ball I come hard and try and bowl fast,” said the 24-year-old, who also possesses a well-disguised slower ball.
“I got a few balls through around 150kph in the Big Bash, which is about 93mph in old money. I always try and get it down.
“They are going to be flat pitches here and they will probably bring the boundaries in, so it will be a challenge. I just look to keep things simple – bowl straight, bowl hard, bowl just short of a length and make the batsmen hit me off my good lengths.”
Word of Mills’ potency earned him contracts with Chittagong Vikings, Auckland Aces and Brisbane Heat during a globetrotting winter.
“I got a Big Bash gig at short notice which was great,” said Mills, who conceded just 20 runs from four overs in his last outing against Melbourne Stars.
“I flew over to Brisbane and played two games for them which went really well. It was one I’d always hoped to get so to get a little taste of it was great. It means I didn’t go home but I hear it’s pretty cold so I was happy to miss that.
“I had a great time both on and off the field. I had never been to New Zealand before so it was good to spend five weeks there – I had a great time with the Auckland boys.”
Experiencing life abroad with England and hopping around the world playing franchise cricket must have seemed a distant dream two years ago when a back injury forced the Sussex bowler to consider retirement.
However, England strength and conditioning coach Pete Atkinson oversaw a tailored programme that has enabled Mills to cope with the stresses and strains of being a fast bowler.
Mills has since won his first England cap and this tour of India is his first with the Three Lions.
“I’m glad to be standing here, still at full fitness and ready to go for this series,” he said.
“I’ve not missed a game this winter. I think I’ve played 16 or 17 matches so far this winter and gone strong.
“It’s challenging – I played a lot of games in New Zealand in a short period of time – but I got through it and was happy with how I went. At one point I played four games in seven days.
“I have found a good routine and a way of doing things now. I am a bit more aware of what I need to do around my cricket to stay on the park.”
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