Australian fast bowler Nathan Ellis is set to tick off another major milestone in his fast-rising career, as he is all set to realize one of his dreams of playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) after being snapped up by Punjab Kings (PBKS) for the remainder of the IPL 2021.
Ellis recently set the T20 world ablaze and has had remarkable last few months from becoming the first bowler to take a hat-trick (3/34) on his T20I debut, against Bangladesh and then being named in the Australia squad as a reserve player for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2021 and then getting an IPL contract.
The 26-year-old pacer has been signed as a replacement for fellow Australian Riley Meredith by the PBKS for the remainder of the IPL 2021 in the UAE and he wants to make the most of his maiden IPL outing.
Ellis said that he wants to pick the brains of his PBKS teammate and one of his favorites bowlers Mohammad Shami. And also hopes to have a chat with the man with the “best yorker” Jasprit Bumrah and the “aggressive” Mohammad Siraj during the second phase of the IPL 14, resuming on September 19.
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Speaking to PTI from Dubai, Ellis said: “It is one of those things you sort of dream about growing up but you know it's never a reality and it's never like you've definitely going to do it. So to be able to get on that Australia tour was a dream come true.
And then I wasn't really expecting to get a game so to get a game and sort of the results that came from that was amazing and still doesn't feel really real. Then obviously to get the opportunity to come to the IPL with Punjab. It's (playing in IPL) is something that I've also dreamt about.”
The death overs specialist said he doesn’t have any specific expectations from his maiden IPL stint but is ready for the challenges in the IPL 14 that will provide him with a valuable experience.
Ellis further said, “I don't really have any specific expectations (from his first IPL). I'm prepared to play against the best players as it is the best T20 tournament in the world. So I'm very prepared that it's going to be tough cricket. Also, I am really, really excited to talk to Mohammed Shami. I haven't spoken to him yet but he's been one of my favorite cricketers.”
The Aussie further added, “Bumrah is arguably the best T20 bowler in the world if not in general in all formats. I'd love to be able to get a hold of him and pick his brain if I get the chance. He definitely is the best yorker bowler in the world. So I'd love to love to pick his brain, as well as Siraj's. I think the way he has come on to the scene and I love how aggressive and how much energy he brings to the table I think that's something that I tried to do as well.”
Ever since he started playing junior cricket, the six feet tall pacer was reminded that he was not the usual tall fast bowler that Australian cricket is known to produce, and faced all the criticism, as he just wanted to play the game he loved.
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Reacting to the same, Ellis said: “Height is something that I've always had to deal with from junior cricket, all the way through now, especially in Australia with the stereotypical fast bowler in Australia is six foot five, tall, bouncy. I've always had to break that down but the simple fact is that at the end of the day I love playing cricket. And my mantra has always been you know if you're performing and you're taking wickets they can't ignore you forever, whether you're 8 foot tall or five foot tall.”
The Australian bowler lies mostly on yorkers, cutters, and slower balls to keep the batsman guessing and earned instant success as a death bowler, but he insisted that he has the game for all formats.
He continued, “It's not a role that many people look forward to as it's tough, and you have more bad days than good days. But I really, I really enjoy the challenge. I really enjoy me versus the batter battle. I also love it as you trying to stay a step ahead of the batter and structure different types of balls and different variations which is the crux of being a T20 bowler.”
Ellis signed off by summing up the last 24 months, “I'm just trying to soak as much as I can because I feel like it's come really quick and I am worried that it might go really quick so I'm really trying to soak it up.”
(With PTI Inputs)
