By Matt Somerford
For the first time in his fledgling career Tymal Mills will spend the winter in England with his only focus to prepare for the next county campaign.
That could be very good news for his new club Sussex.
Since becoming a late starter to cricket – first serving notice of his talent by topping 90mph as a teenager – Mills has seen his stock rise so rapidly that at one point last winter he was regarded as England’s answer to Mitchell Johnson.
They were, by the 22-year-old’s own recognition, premature claims but perhaps reflective also of a young quick whose stinging pace has busted open the doors to a career in cricket he might never have expected.
Mills was almost instantly identified as a player with England potential, touring Sri Lanka with the under-19s in 2010-11, and he has since twice toured the sub-continent with the Lions in the off-season.
This Christmas he will, however, be able to draw breath on his heady rise after he was not included in the England Performance Programme's fast bowlers squad that flies out to South Africa later this month.
Injury played a part in that but after making arguably his most important decision as a cricketer so far - to leave Essex for the south coast – he thinks it might be a blessing in disguise.
“This winter will be my first winter away from an ECB programme,” he told ecb.co.uk.
“It might be what I need, just so I can get away from it all a bit. I’ve always been on the under-19s and I’ve done a couple of Lions tours and things like that so this winter I’m just going to concentrate on Sussex.
“This is my chance to focus my efforts on how I’m going to be successful for Sussex and not thinking about anything too high up.”
The time off will also give Mills the chance to give his body a much-needed break after a back injury cut short his summer and prevented any chance of an EPP return.
Scans earlier this month confirmed his recovery was on track and, with no pressure on a return date, Mills hopes to get back to bowling in the nets early in the new year.
“I know I have to be patient. I can’t just think I’m okay and I can get straight back into it. I’ve got to do the right things,” he said.
“Not being on any ECB programme there is no need to bowl. I don’t technically need to bowl until February-March so that is a bit of a blessing in disguise – it should let my body recover.”
Mills was restricted to six LV= County Championship games last summer – a frustrating return after he had received “good feedback” from the England and Lions coaches following his winter touring.
Sussex cricket manager Mark Robinson worked with him with the Lions in Sri Lanka – a relationship that was one of the factors in his move – and he now wants to prove he can become a consistent wicket-taker to match his talent.
“The injuries were a frustration after I had a really good winter abroad,” Mills said.
“I was really happy with how my cricket was going and then it kind of just got hit by different injuries and it knocked me out for the rest of the season.
“Like I say, this is a chance for me to get everything right and work hard.”
First week with @SussexCCC over and done with! Great to be on board. pic.twitter.com/VIW0KBrcwc
— Tymal Mills (@tmills15) November 7, 2014
After the hype and headlines that briefly followed him in Australia, Mills knows the time is right to put meat on the bones of a career that the England selectors will surely keep one eye on.
“I have England ambitions of course,” he said.
“But I know as well as anybody that if Mitchell Johnson hadn’t done as well as he did then people wouldn’t have been speaking about of me at all (in Australia).
“It was more of a circumstantial type of thing for me – it was very flattering for people to be saying those things. Hopefully one day I can live up to that and I’ll have a good career, hopefully, playing for England.
“But in the short term I know I need to focus on settling down and doing well.
“I’ve chosen Sussex for those reasons. They have ticked a lot of boxes for me to try and develop my career. That’s all I am thinking about at the moment.”
Mills poured over his decision to leave Essex, canvassing opinion from several sources including Chris Jordan, who has blossomed into an England international since choosing a similar route to Hove.
“I’m a very open guy. When it came down to a situation of renewing my contract (with Essex) I went into it with an open mind,” he said.
“I didn’t have my head set on staying at Essex. I wanted to do what was best for myself and my career. I had interest from other counties. I met with a couple of other counties to make sure I made the right decision.
“I took my time and made sure I spoke with everybody I felt I needed to speak to and then weighed up all my options.
“It was hard leaving Essex, obviously my first county and they gave me my first opportunity which I am very grateful for, but at this time it was a good opportunity for me and it ticked a lot of boxes at the time.
“I’m very happy with the decision that I’ve made.”
If Mills has made the right choice he hopes it will be the last time in his career he needs to up sticks.
“Hopefully it will be my one and only move,” he said.
“I’ve just sorted out a flat now. I’ve moved down straight away and I’m going to spend the winter getting accustomed to everything and everybody at the ground, facilities and all the players that are going to be about.
“I already know Brighton pretty well. I want to get my feet under the table and give it a good crack in pre-season.”
While Mills is prepared for the labour of a winter in the gym, he would betray the fast-bowler’s mentality if he did not feel some restlessness.
Perhaps reassuringly, he admits getting back out on the park and bowling flat-out quick as soon as possible will be playing on his mind – and he thinks he can make the step up to the top flight once fit.
“I’m not backward in coming forward like that. I want to bowl the big overs and I want to do the things that helps make the team succeed,” he said.
“I back myself to do better with the better standard of cricket I play.
“The wickets are probably better suited to me in Division One with a bit more bounce and carry. I’m not a nibble-it-around bowler, I don’t need a green seamer every week so Division One pitches should be a good fit for my pace.
“I want to play in every format 100 per cent and bowl at 100 per cent.
“I know my four-day cricket is where I need to start to step up a little bit and start taking more wickets. It’s ahead of me.
“It’s going to be a good challenge. I can’t wait.”