Tymal Mills Reflects on Sussex's Path

Tymal Mills' excitement at leading Sussex to Finals Day in his debut season as T20 captain was dampened by the frustration of losing Jofra Archer to a scheduling conflict, which Mills called “a real shame” and “pretty stupid.”

The T20 Blast Finals Day, featuring the semi-finals and final in one event at Edgbaston on September 14, overlaps with England’s T20I series against Australia on September 13 and 15. As the ECB is determining player availability, it seems England players, including Archer, will miss Finals Day.

Mills, after leading Sussex to an eight-wicket quarter-final victory over Lancashire, in which Archer claimed 2 for 20, expressed disappointment. He told BBC Radio Northampton that the absence of all England players from the finals is "pretty stupid," stating the loss of Archer as particularly tough. Mills noted that whoever steps in would have big shoes to fill.

Surrey, which also qualified for Finals Day, faces a similar issue, with several of their key players, including Jamie Overton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, and Reece Topley, involved in the England squad. They are awaiting confirmation on their four Test players' availability. Warwickshire, too, might miss Dan Mousley and Jacob Bethell, both named in England’s T20I squad, if they advance to Finals Day.

Mills acknowledged that losing Archer was a significant blow to Sussex, saying other counties like Surrey might better absorb the loss of key players. However, he highlighted that the team stepping onto the field on September 14 would need to rise to the occasion, though he doubted many would agree with the current schedule.

The long gap between the group stage and quarter-finals—over six weeks—had earlier been criticised by Kent captain Sam Billings as "ridiculous." However, many counties appreciate the break, which provides more time to sell tickets, as evidenced by sell-out crowds at both The Oval and Hove.

Under Mills' captaincy, Sussex has thrived this season, turning around last year's disappointment of missing the quarter-finals under Ravi Bopara. With 10 wins out of 15 matches, the team has excelled, driven by Australian Daniel Hughes, the Blast’s leading run-scorer, Mills as the third-highest wicket-taker, and James Coles enjoying a standout all-round season.

Mills, now in his 10th year at Sussex, expressed deep attachment to the club. He shared that he took on the captaincy after Bopara's departure, feeling a responsibility to lead. Despite opportunities to move to larger clubs, Mills said, "I live here, and this is where I want to be." Reflecting on his captaincy, he admitted that he’s learned to trust his instincts and stay aggressive, especially in field settings and bowling changes.

Taking T20 cricket very seriously, Mills highlighted his desire to win as many games as possible, knowing his playing days are limited. Leading Sussex to a Blast title would be the pinnacle of his efforts, he said.

One aspect of Sussex’s success this season has been their aggressive batting, reaching 200 runs in five of seven innings while batting first. Mills credited the team for playing positive and entertaining cricket and noted their improved home record at Hove. He expressed pride in the work of both the coaching staff and players in getting to this stage.

Looking ahead to Finals Day, Mills said the team’s focus is on winning. "First, you want to get out of the group, and we did that. Winning a knockout game against a strong Lancashire side was a great achievement. Now, we’re heading to Edgbaston with the attitude that we can win."