Australia pacer keen to focus on white-ball opportunities ahead of CWC23
Nathan Ellis has a phenomenal record at the T20I level. The fast bowler has 18 wickets at an average of 9.11 and an economy rate is 6.3.
In the recently concluded second T20I against South Africa, Ellis picked 3/25 including a double wicket maiden in his first over. Along with Sean Abbott, who picked 3/22, he helped restrict the Proteas to 164 in the first innings.
Ellis has played only four ODIs till date despite his stellar start in T20Is.
Despite his limited ODI appearances, the pacer has made the cut to Australia's preliminary squad for the World Cup. This is indicative of the faith the selectors have in his white-ball capabilities.
Speaking to the reporters, Ellis discussed that despite his red-ball credentials, his focus will be on the upcoming World Cups over the next 12-month period.
“It's (red-ball cricket) definitely something I have had to think about. I've had a little bit of red-ball experience and it's something I really love doing and I've done okay,” Ellis, however, added a caveat. “But on the flip side, all my opportunities for Australia have been on the white-ball set-up so it has been kind of hard to balance the two.
“For me, my opportunity is white-ball cricket for Australia so I sort of feel, at the moment with the World Cups coming up in the next year or 18 months, put all my eggs in the white-ball basket currently then when the opportunity to play red-ball cricket arises, if it makes sense, it makes sense.”
Given Australia’s fast bowling riches, Ellis doesn’t sit atop the pecking order. He has played only seven T20Is since making his debut in August 2021.
He discussed his sporadic international appearances, stating that he’s tried to accommodate himself to the same.
“It's something that I've not struggled with, you sort of have to try and become accustomed to [these things]. I haven't played consecutive games, and have got one game here, one game there. So it's definitely easy to fall into the mindset of 'this is my only chance' or 'this could be my last chance', that sort of thing.”
Ellis added that he tried to get the above mentality out of his mind, and is focusing on trying to do his best whenever he gets to wear the Australia colours.
“So for me, one, trying to get that mentality out of my mind is a challenge, and two, I'm just trying to do the best I can any time I wear the colours.
“I'm under no illusions that at the current stage I'm not in the first XI, so it's taking the opportunities when they come and doing the best I can and keep throwing my hat in the ring for selection.”
While Ellis has found great success as a death bowler, he also discussed his eagerness to become a bowler for all situations.
“In T20 cricket, it's very easy to get pigeon-holed in certain roles and I've been spoken about as a death bowler for a little while now.
“So a big goal for me was trying to make an impact in the powerplay, so to do that last night was obviously really great.”