Fast bowler Tymal Mills, one of the three players who sported the new Desert Vipers kit at the jersey launch on Monday, said he would be ready for the Desert Vipers' DP World ILT20 opener after a family crisis ruled him out of a spell in Australia's Big Bash League. Mills was due to play for the Perth Scorchers but had to pull out when his daughter was taken ill. However, speaking just a day after arriving in Dubai to link up with his Desert Vipers team-mates, he said the trauma of that situation was now in the past and he was looking forward to getting back into action.
"My daughter was sick and in hospital for a few weeks, but she has recovered brilliantly," he said. "I am really fortunate they are out here with me, so that is nice, and I do not have anything to worry about at home and I can keep an eye on them here."
The 30 year-old left-arm quick was part of England's ICC T20 World Cup-winning squad at the back end of 2022 but that joy was tempered by the knowledge he did not feature during the tournament. And Mills said it meant he was determined to use the DP World ILT20, together with future cricket that follows, to remind the England selectors of his credentials in the shortest international format.
"It was disappointing not to play (in the T20 World Cup)," he said. "It was brilliant to be a part of the squad, but as any player will tell you, you want to be in the eleven, you do not want to be on the side-lines. I would have rather been out there with the boys, and we had a great four or five weeks in Australia and obviously a very successful one as well."
Mills said he also expected to be entrusted with the tough overs at the back-end of the bowling innings, when the opposition looks to accelerate - and he confirmed he was happy to take on that role if asked.
"I am happy to fill whatever role the team wants. I always like bowling in those big situations. That is why I am here. It is what I like to do. It is what my skill-set is favored towards. Whatever they want me to do, I will certainly give it my best."
Speaking at the jersey launch event in which he appeared alongside captain Colin Munro and UAE all-rounder Ali Naseer, Mills said he was confident the Desert Vipers had a good chance of winning the tournament.
"We are certainly here to win it," he said. "Every team starts from scratch, from zero, and only one team can win."