Internet Desk: For two years, Andrew Tye travelled the length and breadth of the country getting a feel of different Indian grounds. He followed the Indian Premier League from close quarters – first with Chennai Super Kings in 2015 and then with Gujarat Lions in 2016.
He would send down countless deliveries in the training sessions, but on match days he would be confined to the dugout. With three explosive foreign batsmen in the Lions line-up and the fourth spot sealed by all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, Tye never made it the playing XI. Despite the long wait, the amiable and jovial bowler did not lose patience.
When he finally got a look in on Friday against the visiting Rising Pune Supergiant, Tye used all his experience gained in umpteen practice sessions. In just four overs, he picked five times the wickets that Gujarat Lions had collected in their previous two games.
Tye became the first bowler ever to pick up a hat-trick and take a five-for on IPL debut. Bowling for the first time in the sixth over of the match, Tye struck to dismiss opener Rahul Tripathi. He then got the big fish Ben Stokes with the first ball of his second over as RPS were reduced to 106/4. It was in his fourth over – final over of the innings – that Tye removed Ankit Sharma, Manoj Tiwary and Shardul Thakur off the first three balls to register the second hat-trick of the day.
After the Lions’ first win this season, Tye, who bagged the Man of the Match award, relived his scintillating performance in a chat with iplt20.com.
It has been a long wait for you, but it couldn’t have been any better.
I think it was 34 matches now to get my first IPL game. The way it came out today, it couldn’t have been any better. We went out there with a certain attitude. We had to be energetic. We had to get things done. It started with the first over that Praveen Kumar bowled and the catch that Suresh Raina took. It was a world-class performance from the whole team.
When did you find out that you were playing? How crucial was it for your confidence to get the wicket in your first over?
Finally, this morning our Coach Hodgy (Brad Hoge) told me ‘Get set to play. You’re definitely playing’. To get a wicket in the first over settled me down. I came here with nothing to lose. When you’ve waited that long for a chance, you got to take it. I was happy the way I came out and performed tonight.
Did you ever run out of patience after spending so much time in the dugout?
Not really. Even if you are not playing, India is a great place to develop your game and learn from the best players in the world. Playing with the international players and the Indian players, my cricket has really come on. It only leads to the development of your game.
Your hat-trick was made possible thanks to two excellent catches in the field.
Brendon McCullum took an excellent catch at long off as the ball was in the air for quite a long time and Ishan Kishan at deep square was so close to the rope. It was great awareness by him. As bowlers, we cannot do our job without the fielders. I thank them all the time.
What was your plan when you were running into bowl the third and the most crucial ball?
Unlike the hat-trick I took in the Big Bash, I actually knew it was a hat-trick ball. It came out perfectly as sometimes you try too hard and it just doesn’t go right. You always go back to your run-up and think ‘What ball am I going to bowl?’. I had decided I’d bowl a slower ball before I ran in. I was able to get it on the stump and the batsman missed it. These things don’t come around too often and I will cherish this forever.How often do you see two hat-tricks in a day, let alone one?
You made brilliant use of the knuckle ball. How much work has gone into developing it?
It has probably taken me five-six years to get to the stage where it is today. I have practiced it hard and have practiced with the right intent. Now, it is my most powerful weapon in T20 cricket.
After two losses, GL has finally registered their first win. Everything seemed to be going right for the team today.
With Ravindra Jadeja coming back into the team, it creates a much better balance and as a result we were able to get our first win on the board. It was a good display against a very good team. Hopefully, we can keep the ball rolling from here on. We have a day off as we’re traveling to Mumbai and we play a day game on Sunday. It will be a tough ask, but that is what this tournament is all about. It is the best tournament in the world to challenge yourself. We take every game as it comes and hope to get another win on Sunday.
Courtsey-IPL media.