I don’t have ego issues on getting hit, says Tye
New Delhi, May 7: For someone who has to deal with no less than Chris Gayle in the nets, Australian speedster Andrew Tye says it is best to keep the ego aside while bowling in the T20 format where even the best can be taken to cleaners on a regular basis.
“I bowl to Chris ( Gayle) in the nets and that is challenging enough,” the 31- year- old Kings XI Punjab speedster said.
“You can’t take things personally in this format. You will get hit for a six but you can’t react emotionally. The nature of this format is such ( you are always at risk of being hammered). You can limit the damage by executing your plans the best you can,” Tye allowed a peek into his mindset before he goes onto bowl.
Tye is good with variations in pace and landing yorkers accurately but one is “never out of danger” in the shortest format.
“But you got so many dangerous players in other teams. You got Kohli ( Virat) and AB ( de Villiers), Rohit ( Sharma) and Suryakumar ( Yadav). There are always different guys you have not seen and they can surprise you. And there are guys you have have seen a lot of but they are so good that you can’t get them out. It is always a challenge,” he explained.
A late bloomer, Tye has gone on to become an integral part of Australia’s T20 set- up after making his international debut in January, 2016, at the age of 29.
“I started playing professional cricket very late, therefore I came into the international set up late. I have started slow and I don’t hide away from that. But I have got some performances on board and it is developing nicely,” Tye.
The tall fast bowler has already taken 12 wickets for KXIP in the ongoing IPL at 23.08, building on the success of last year when he took three hattricks — two in BBL and one on IPL debut for Gujarat Lions.
His consistent showing in the two popular leagues earned him an ODI call- up earlier this year and he repaid the selectors’ faith by taking a five- wicket haul against England.
He thanks his stars that Chris Gayle is his teammate at KXIP but even then, the best of bowlers are always under pressure in the shortest format.
Tye has to deal with slower pitches and smallers grounds in the IPL but there is not much change in the way he bowls back home during the BBL.
“Both ( IPL and BBL) are tough in their own right. Both are played in different conditions. The wickets are slower here compared to the Big Bash, grounds are smaller in some instances, you are playing against best players in the world. You have to find a way to adjust,” he observed.
Tye is seen as the man for shorter formats but he has not given up his u l t i m a t e dream to wear a Baggy Green.