IT’S MY TYME
Million pound flop Mills eyes IPL again England star: I must right the wrongs
TYMAL MILLS has spent too much of his career firefighting.
Whether it be battling injury or the doubting Thomases, his presence here with England’s T20 squad is evidence of victory over both.
But the fast bowler admits the challenges ahead of him in 2022 could be the biggest yet, namely booking his spot at the World T20 in Australia and showing the Indian Premier League he’s no big-money flop.
Mills became an overnight millionaire in 2017 when he was picked from the auction by Royal Challengers Bangalore for £1.4million, only for injury to cut short his tournament after just five matches.
Since then he has succeeded in franchise T20 cricket all over the world but not once put himself back in the IPL auction – until this year.
If Mills is picked up when the horsetrading starts next
month, it may not be for the sort of money that made him the second highest-paid overseas player behind Ben Stokes.
Paperwork
But on a personal level it will present a belated opportunity to show India and the world what he failed to do last time.
“I’ve submitted all my paperwork last week, so it’s fingers crossed,” said Mills.
“I haven’t been to the IPL since I was first picked
five years ago, which is a long time.
“It obviously didn’t go as well as I’d have liked. I got injured so I’m very keen to get back and right some wrongs there, and give a better account of myself.”
Mills, 29, was a late bolter into Eoin Morgan’s World Cup squad last October after four and a half years in the international wilderness, playing four matches before a quad injury struck.
Since then he has played in T10 in late November in
Abu Dhabi and the Big Bash for Perth Scorchers, where he took 12 wickets in seven matches.
Searing pace used to be his stock in trade even if it probably led to more injuries – but as Mills has matured he has become a potent death bowler with welldisguised slower balls a weapon of choice.
And with Jofra Archer and Mark Wood still on the sidelines, Mills has another chance in this series to show Morgan that he needs him on the plane later this year.
Temptation
Mills turned down the opportunity to Pakistan Super League in February in an effort to give his body time to recover.
“I’ve learned with my body that I need to find windows to come out of and get back into direct training,” he said.
“It’s tough when you’re fit and bowling well the temptation is to keep playing.
“But after this I will be going home to spend a bit of time with my family.”