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Mills to storm in for Hurricanes in BBL|07

English quick, who sold for $2.3 million in this year's IPL auction, pens two-year deal with Hobart

Twenty20 specialist speedster Tymal Mills will return to Australia this summer after Hobart Hurricanes announced they've signed the England international for the coming KFC Big Bash League season.

Mills, who had an eventful two-game stint with Brisbane Heat last summer, has put pen to paper on a two-year deal and is the first overseas player the Hurricanes have announced for BBL|07.

"I was really pleased when my agent gave me the call and said the Hurricanes were interested in me coming over. I want to make it a long-lasting relationship, so I'm really pleased to sign on for a couple of seasons," the 25-year-old said.

"The Big Bash is a great tournament; I've been watching it at home for the last few years now and I know it's a competition which British cricketers and fans really enjoy watching."

When slow balls go wrong: Mills' wild delivery

Mills, who was sold for $AUD 2.3 million to Indian Premier League outfit Royal Challengers Banglalore during this year's auction, was forced to give up first-class cricket aged just 22 and become a T20 specialist after being diagnosed with a chronic back condition.

Capable of hitting speeds up to 150 kph, the 25-year-old's back-of-the-hand slower ball is regarded as one of the best in the world.


"Whenever I take the new ball and bowl in the Power Play I look to come hard – bowl fast, bowl my bouncers and use the pace and angle I've got being a left-armer," he said

:If there is any extra bounce in the surfaces we play on, then hopefully I'll exploit that.

"At the end of innings I like to mix up my pace, get some yorkers in and slower balls as well.

"I'd like to think I'm suited to most wickets, so hopefully we can get some nice ones this summer."

Mishra comically deceived by Mills slower ball

A late-tournament addition for the Heat in BBL|06, Mills had a less-than-ideal conclusion to his brief spell for the club when he was momentarily barred from entering the MCG for a match against the Melbourne Stars.

"With the Aussie Open on, the traffic was terrible," Mills explained to cricket.com.au after the Heat's seven-wicket win over the Stars in January.

"Luckily one of the boys was driving and those of us that were playing left the car and walked and got to the ground late as it is.

"Then I didn't have my accreditation on me, so they wouldn't let me in the stadium for a good half an hour.

"I ended up getting in with one of the media guys and walked through the crowd, straight onto the outfield after the warm-ups had started, quickly got my ankle strapped and came out with my gear on.

"This was all about 20 minutes before the first ball was bowled, so not an ideal start to the day."

Hobart advised they are still waiting on a No Objection Certificate from the England and Wales Cricket Board for Mills' particaption in the tournament.

The ABC reported last month that the Hurricanes have also been in talks with another Englishman, allrounder Tom Curran, who is yet to sign.


Hobart Hurricanes BBL|07 squad (so far): George Bailey (c), Tim Paine, Dan Christian, Hamish Kingston, Cameron Boyce, Clive Rose, Ben McDermott, Jake Reed, Beau Webster, James Bazley, Simon Milenko, Tymal Mills