Advertisement

Tymal Mills, the England fast bowler, has said that although he does not like watching ‘traditional’ Test cricket, he is glued to the TV screen when Rishabh Pant comes out to bat in a Test match.

"I only play white-ball cricket, I don't play four-day cricket due to injuries. In general, I don't like watching traditional Test cricket but when Rishabh Pant comes to bat in a Test match, I am watching,” Mills told Times Now News.

Pant, 23, has already scored Test hundreds in Australia and England and played a massive role in India’s series win Down Under earlier this year. His 97 helped the visitors draw the Sydney Test, and his unbeaten 89 led India to a memorable series-sealing win in Brisbane.

“It's exciting isn't it? it’s box office, it makes you want to watch the TV. He played a couple of eye-catching innings which was good to see. I like entertaining cricket. Even that first pitch in Ahmedabad when it was turning square [third Test between India and England in February], I liked it because there was something happening every ball. I personally really enjoyed the Test series."

Mills was once seen as England’s next big pace hope but a congenital issue in his back meant he has been restricted mostly to T20 cricket. He was bought for Rs 12 crore by Virat Kohli’s Team Bangalore in the Indian T20 League auction in 2017. 

The left-arm pacer will be turning out for the Southampton franchise in the 100-ball League, and said he has been working on getting his body sorted for the season.

"I have stepped back this winter to try and sort my body out to make sure I am where I want to be. This is a big year for me, we have the T20 Blast with Sussex in June and then the 100-ball League will be played from July to mid-August. I will be playing for Soutampton. We have a really good squad.

“Myself, Jofra Archer, Chris Jordan, Andre Russell, David Warner, James Vince, Marcus Stoinis. We got a really, really strong side. I can't wait for that. It is going to be a big tournament in England. I think cricket is going to be really high level. Those are my two assignments this England summer.”

The English fast bowler from Yorkshire made his T20I debut in 2016 and has represented his country in the game’s shortest format on five occasions.

Featured photo: AFP / Manjunath Kiran

Advertisement