Ellis’ hot form silences Blues

THE remarkable rise of Nathan Ellis from cricket battler to domestic star has rolled on after another inspired spell of bowling at Blundstone Arena yesterday.

It is almost impossible to fathom the 25-year-old was without a Tasmanian contract just six months ago as he sliced his way through his former home state NSW to land back-to-back six-wicket Sheffield Shield hauls.

Having announced himself on the national stage with 5-38 against the Blues in the One-Day Cup in October, Ellis took 6-43 from 20 overs yesterday as the hosts restricted the ladder leaders to 195.

Sean Abbott struck back for NSW, rattling Tasmania’s top order to leave the Tigers 3-63 at stumps.

Ellis’s heroics came after his secondinnings 6-86 and match haul of 9-206 just 10 days ago on shield debut against Western Australia.

After Gabe Bell (4-45) claimed the first two wickets, Ellis triggered a collapse of 8-94 half an hour after lunch when he trapped Daniel Solway in front for 32.

Solway and Nick Larkin (45) had put the visitors in a strong position at 2-101 before Ellis prised open the middle order and completed a dominant session by removing Peter Nevill and Jack Edwards in his last two overs before tea.

“I have said it from the get-go, you never really feel like you belong, it is something I have dreamed about and worked towards for so long so to be here and doing it now it is still quite surreal,” Ellis said.

“To get another five-wicket haul I am stoked and we are not in a bad position.

“I have always loved red-ball cricket and I always strived to perform well and go to the next level in the red-ball arena. When you get told you are a white-ball player and you get that opportunity with the white ball it’s great… but I love I’m not just considered a white-ball player now.”

While Ellis’s star continues to rise, his teammate Jordan Silk’s summer from hell shows no sign of ending after another failure yesterday.

Silk shouldered arms to an Abbott delivery which seamed back and he was trapped in front.

It’s the eighth time in 12 shield innings that he has been dismissed lbw.

Having started the season with scores of 44, 41 and 28 before having his hand broken in the nets by teammate Riley Meredith and being forced to miss two matches, Silk has managed just 89 runs at 7.4 since returning.