IPL stint set Tymal up for new Hove gig

TYMAL Mills admits that life in the IPL was a real eye opener.

Mills, who played for Royal Challengers Bangalore in a £1.4m deal, claimed five wickets in the five matches he played before struggling with hamstring and back problems.

He said: “India was good – but frustrating because I got injured halfway through, which was annoying. It was crazy but a good experience and one I’m very grateful for.

“I was pleased with how I did when I played. I only played the first five games but it was a mad experience.You find yourself with a lot more media commitments and sponsors.

“You are filming TV adverts and you find yourself in photo shoots that go up on billboards. You have something to fit in around your training every day. I was in a TV advert where I had to pretend to be asleep on a mattress.

“I was supposed to be dreaming about bowling and that made national TV. You obviously don’t get that over here.”

Mills also told of his delight to sign a new deal with Sussex, which will see him continue to play T20 cricket at Hove until 2019.

“My contract was due to expire at the end of this summer and I was definitely keen to extend. The club have done right by me since I have joined,” he added. “I’m only able to play T20s but the club have been great around that. I was keen to put those extra two years on my contract and that takes us up to whatever happens with the new T20 competition.

“Providing I get the gigs it can work out really well. I got back from India at the end of May so that and the start of June was quite a chilled time. I ramp it up later in June to play for Sussex in July and August.

“September and October is pretty quiet then, in November, the new South African tournament is starting, which I’m in the draft for. End of December and January, you’ve got the Big Bash in Australia.

“I was in the PSL last February so we will see what happens. Then it’s March off and April and May in the IPL. If I stay fit and healthy that’s how a year could look.”