Fast bowler Tymal Mills, one of three players to sport the new Desert Vipers kit at the jersey launch on Monday, said he would be ready for the Desert Vipers’ DP World ILT20 opener after a family crisis ruled him out of a spell in Australia’s Big Bash League.

Mills was due to play for the Perth Scorchers but had to pull out when his daughter was taken ill.However, speaking just a day after arriving in Dubai to link up with his Desert Vipers team-mates, he said the trauma of that situation was now in the past and he was looking forward to getting back into action.“My daughter was sick and in hospital for a few weeks, but she has recovered brilliantly,” he said. “I am really fortunate they are out here with me, so that is nice, and I do not have anything to worry about at home and I can keep an eye on them here.“It was really good of the team to facilitate that so I can focus on the cricket now.”

“Unfortunately, I missed the Big Bash League (with Perth Scorchers as) I was supposed to arrive here with seven or eight games under my belt. So, I need to take this week, to get up to speed again.“But you do not forget (how to bowl) – hopefully!” said Mills, with a smile on his face. “And come game one I will be ready to go.”The 30 year-old left-arm quick was part of England’s ICC T20 World Cup-winning squad at the back end of 2022 but that joy was tempered by the knowledge he did not feature during the tournament.And Mills said it meant he was determined to use the DP World ILT20, together with future cricket that follows, to remind the England selectors of his credentials in the shortest international format.

“It was disappointing not to play (in the T20 World Cup),” he said. “It was brilliant to be a part of the squad, but as any player will tell you, you want to be in the eleven, you do not want to be on the side-lines. I would have rather been out there with the boys, and we had a great four or five weeks in Australia and obviously a very successful one as well.“I am looking forward to getting back and playing some regular cricket now. I have got this tournament then maybe the PSL (Pakistan Super League) after that, so I am just looking at stacking some games together and hopefully having some success and, moving forward, I hope to get back in the (England T20 International) playing eleven.”Mills said he also expected to be entrusted with the tough overs at the back-end of the bowling innings, when the opposition looks to accelerate – and he confirmed he was happy to take on that role if asked.“I have not had those chats (with the coaches and the captain) yet,” he said. “(But) I am happy to fill whatever role the team wants. I always like bowling in those big situations. That is why I am here. It is what I like to do. It is what my skill-set is favoured towards. Whatever they want me to do, I will certainly give it my best.”Speaking at the jersey launch event in which he appeared alongside captain Colin Munro and UAE all-rounder Ali Naseer, Mills said he was confident the Desert Vipers had a good chance of winning the tournament.“We are certainly here to win it,” he said. “Every team starts from scratch, from zero, and only one team can win. I have been lucky enough to play in some winning sides over the last couple of years. It would be a great feeling to come here and lift the trophy and have a little party afterwards, and hopefully we will have that to come.”Reflecting on the Desert Vipers squad Mills said he was impressed with the group of players who have been brought together.“I think all the squads are strong, but I think we have assembled a really good group,” he said. “A lot of guys I know personally, having played with them or against in different tournaments around the world. There are a lot of English guys in the squad that I know as well.“I think we have got a good variety, a lot of left-arm fast bowlers, we have wrist-spinners of both kinds, off-spinners and obviously we have got batters that can hit it out of the park as well.“Fingers crossed we have got all our bases covered. I am sure all the teams will be saying that as well. So, we will have to go out there and perform.”Mills is known for his impact bowling in the death overs, and said he expects to play a similar role for the Desert Vipers. And when asked about the abundance of left-arm quicks on the squad, he said: “You cannot go wrong with a left-armer! Also, it gives Colin Munro and James Foster the flexibility to chop and change.“Sheraz Ahmad, one of our UAE players, is a left-arm fast bowler, as well (as myself, Ruben Trumpelmann and Sheldon Cottrell), so I think we have four left-arm seamers in the squad.“(It’s) always good to have variety in your bowling attack. Selfishly I want to play every game (and) I do not want to sit on the side-lines. I will leave those big decisions up to the coaches.”A full transcript of the interviews can be found below:Tymal Mills on how it feels to be in Dubai wearing the Desert Vipers team jersey ahead of the DP World ILT20:“It is nice to be here, and I am looking forward to meeting everybody – the whole squad – and getting into training. It is always nice when a new tournament rolls around with a new team and new environment and trying to set up a new culture. Hopefully when the fun starts next week we will be successful on the field.”Tymal Mills on the family situation, which had caused him to miss traveling to Australia for the Big Bash League:“My daughter was sick and in hospital for a few weeks, but she has recovered brilliantly. I am really fortunate they are out here with me, so that is nice, and I do not have anything to worry about at home and I can keep an eye on them here. It was really good of the team to facilitate that so I can focus on the cricket now.”Tymal Mills on the appeal of the DP World ILT20 over other franchise tournaments ongoing at the same time:“It is a great time to be a cricketer at the moment, especially a short-form cricketer. The opportunities are endless. This tournament (DP World ILT20) is one of the new leagues, along with the one in South Africa (SA20). Both are very appealing, and both are going to be equally successful and equally tough to play in. I have played a lot of cricket in the UAE, and I am very familiar with the conditions here. There is less travel involved, you are not flying around as you are in other leagues. We have a base for a month or so, in one room; those little things make a lot of difference over the course of 4 or 5 weeks. I am really looking forward to meeting my new team-mates and getting started next week.”Tymal Mills on whether wearing the team kit has brought home the reality of the tournament, and how soon it is about to start:“It has become more real. The next stage is getting the first training session in. I have been lucky enough to play in a number of teams in a lot of different leagues, and I have got a good collection of kits back home. So (I am) looking forward to adding this one to the collection as well.”Tymal Mills on how ready he is to get going for the Desert Vipers in the DP World ILT20:“Unfortunately, I missed the Big Bash League, I was supposed to arrive here with seven or eight games under my belt. So, I need to take this week, to get up to speed again. You do not forget (how to bowl) – hopefully (laughing)! And come game one I will be ready to go.”Tymal Mills on how the Desert Vipers team has multiple left-arm quicks and whether they might all be playing together in a match:“Hundred percent (you can have multiple left-arm quicks in a playing eleven). You cannot go wrong with a left-armer. Also, it gives Colin Munro and James Foster the flexibility to chop and change. Sheraz Ahmad the UAE player is a left arm fast bowler as well (as Ruben Trumpelmann and Sheldon Cottrell), so I think we have four left-arm seamers on the squad. (It is) always good to have variety in your bowling attack. Selfishly I want to play every game (and) I do not want to sit on the side-lines. I will leave those big decisions up to the coaches.”Tymal Mills on whether he expects to continue playing the role of a premium death bowler for the Desert Vipers:“I assume so (but) I have not had those chats yet. I am happy to fill whatever role the team wants. I always like bowling in those big situations. That is why I am here. It is what I like to do. It is what my skill set is favoured towards. Whatever they want me to do, I will certainly give it my best.”Tymal Mills on whether he hopes to use this tournament to re-ignite his chances of England selection:“It was disappointing not to play (in the T20 World Cup). It was brilliant to be a part of the squad, but as any player will tell you, you want to be in the eleven, you do not want to be on the side-lines. I would have rather been out there with the boys, but we had a great four or five weeks in Australia and obviously a very successful one as well. I am looking forward to getting back and playing some regular cricket now. I have got this tournament then maybe the PSL after that. (I am) just looking at stacking some games together and hopefully having some success and moving forward I hope to get back in the (England) playing eleven.”Tymal Mills on how he rates the Desert Vipers squad:“I think all the squads are strong, but I think we have assembled a really good group. A lot of guys I know personally, having played with them or against them in different tournaments around the world. (There are) a lot of English guys in the squad that I know as well. I think we have got a good variety, a lot of left-arm fast bowlers, we have wrist-spinners of both kinds, off-spinners and obviously, we have got batters that can hit it out of the park as well. Fingers crossed we have got all our bases covered. I am sure all the teams will be saying that as well. So, we will have to go out there and perform.”Tymal Mills on whether the Desert Vipers can win the tournament:“Of course, that is why we are here, we are certainly here to win it. Every team starts from scratch, from zero, and only one team can win. I have been lucky enough to play in some winning sides over the last couple of years. It is a great feeling to come here and lift the trophy and have a little party afterwards, and hopefully we will have that to come.”

The Desert Vipers have announced two exciting additions to their commercial partner roster ahead of the inaugural edition of the ILT20, starting on January 13th.

Batwinner is an online sports news and sporting goods platform that has a proud history in collaborating with sports players and teams. Batwinner is the Principal Partner of the Desert Vipers. Umbro has been producing high-quality sportswear for 99 years.The Desert Vipers, Batwinner and Umbro have come together for the inaugural edition of the ILT20, a tournament that belongs to the United Arab Emirates, based in the United Arab Emirates, and committed to growing the sport locally.

Phil Oliver, CEO, Desert Vipers, said: “As we approach our first ILT20 match on 15th January our preparations have been given a huge boost through our collaboration with two esteemed, international businesses in Batwinner and Umbro as partners of the team. We are grateful for their support and look forward to a successful campaign”.

Team Batwinner, said: “We are thrilled to announce our Principal Partnership of the Desert Vipers for the upcoming season of ILT20 2023. Being part of the Desert Vipers’ first campaign in what is a ground-breaking event for cricket in the UAE will be an exciting journey. We wish the team the very best of luck”.

Tom Fonti, Umbro brand manager for Brandfolio, said: “The partnership between Umbro and the Desert Vipers for the ILT20 is the first in cricket in our history. Seeing the Desert Vipers take to the field wearing the double-diamond logo will be a proud moment for us and create new opportunities for our brand in the UAE and beyond”.

About Batwinner:https://batwinner.winAbout Umbro:https://www.umbro.com/en/

The Desert Vipers jersey and match kit reveal made waves at Soul Beach in Dubai, literally, as captain Colin Munro rode in from the sea on a boat wearing the new team match kit.

Colin was joined on the beach by fast bowler Tymal Mills in the training kit and UAE all-rounder Ali Naseer in the team’s fan jersey, and the trio then showed off the complete Desert Vipers look for the inaugural season of the DP World ILT20.

Desert Vipers Captain Colin Munro explained why the predominantly red Desert Vipers kit was right for him: “ Yes, it is very exciting, and my Mrs always said red was my colour, so it is obviously one to look forward to.“It is really good to be here and to meet the whole squad. There are a few missing, they will be coming in later tonight and tomorrow,” Munro added.

When asked about his role as captain, Munro was quietly confident. He said: “I am very relaxed about it (captaincy) when you look at the management and coaching support staff (in the Desert Vipers) as there is so much experience there.“We have captains right the way through our experienced line-up as well, and I will be leaning on them too. I will be leaning on Bilbo (Sam Billings), and we have already had chats about our squad, and we are both looking forward to it. The only thing extra I am going to have to do on game day is toss a coin.”

Munro admitted that the Desert Vipers squad was a very well-curated set of players. “I think we have got class the whole way down,” he said. “It is going to be tough to leave some of those players out, but you have got to manage your squads as best as we can.“If we can create a good environment where guys want to be a part of the squad, even if they are not playing and they are still giving their best at games and training, that is all I can ask for. “When asked if the team had what it takes to win the inaugural DP World ILT20 the Desert Vipers captain was emphatic: “Absolutely (we can win it). I think all teams have good squads, but we have a lot of players who we can call upon in terms of our bowling, batting, and different strengths.

“But that is on paper. It is great to have a great team on paper, but cricket is won on the field so if we can start off the tournament well and get a bit of momentum at the right time, then hopefully we can go all the way.”On close inspection, the glorious red jerseys had the team’s viper making its presence felt, along with Principal Sponsor Rasasi Perfumes’ name spelt out in bold letters on the front.Apparel partner Umbro had their distinctive logo placed on the sleeves, while the Desert Vipers’ Sporting Goods Partner Batwinner had their logo splashed across the back of the jersey.The jersey and kit put on display the names of major brands who have chosen to back the Desert Vipers on their maiden cricketing voyage. The support of these commercial partners will be seen on television and digital platforms by millions across the globe when the Desert Vipers, armed with lofty goals, walk out onto the playing field at the inaugural DP World ILT20.Principal Sponsor Rasasi Perfumes is a pioneer of the modern fragrance industry with leading fragrance manufacturing and retail operations across 165 stores in the GCC. Umbro have chosen to support a cricket event and team for the first time as Apparel Sponsors, and Global brand Batwinner, too, have put their faith behind the Desert Vipers.Desert Vipers CEO Phil Oliver said he was thrilled to have the patronage of these three heavyweight partners: “It is our honour and privilege to have Rasasi Perfumes, Batwinner and Umbro on board, supporting the Desert Vipers cricketing journey.“We could not be prouder of the cricket team and coaching staff we have put together for this tournament, but we would not be able to achieve our goals or fulfil our potential without our commercial partners.“They are vital to our success, and the team and I would like to thank our sponsors for collaborating with us and placing their trust in us. We are confident the Desert Vipers will put their best foot forward in this first season of the DP World ILT20.”When asked about the colours of the jersey and kit the CEO said it perfectly reflected the team’s goals and motto: “We think it is bold, vibrant and that is what the Desert Vipers are going to be in this tournament and have a bit of bite as well. The combination of the colours and the red will make us stand out.“It has been a long process and a rewarding one. What counts is what comes next. We look forward to a good week of preparations ahead of our first match against the Sharjah Warriors.”Mr. Apoorva Srivastva, Marketing Head – Retail, Rasasi Perfumes, said: “We at Rasasi Perfumes are proud and excited about our association with The Desert Vipers for the inaugural season of DP World International T20. We see a lot of potential in this league.“Rasasi and The Desert Vipers share a common vision of promoting young local talent who will not only play along with but also compete with some of the best global talents.“We strongly believe in the commitment of the team in developing the sport in this region. The roster of players is very competitive, and we are looking forward to an exciting season. We extend our best wishes to the players, team management and the support staff for the season.”Desert Vipers Director of Cricket Tom Moody was also impressed with the jersey and as someone who has been a part of putting the unit together, he agreed that it reflected the team’s goals and ambitions. Moody said: “All the kits have been carefully thought out, and they have come out really well. I think we are going to stand out on the field.“ It has been a challenge but an enjoyable one (to put this team together). We have got a good network of expertise behind the scenes, with the coaching staff, and also we used CricViz, a world-leading analyst company, to help us refine our search and identify players who we felt were important for us – players who were not only available but fit the balance of our side and have performed in this environment in the UAE.”When asked if the team was capable of winning the trophy, Moody was confident of the Desert Vipers’ chances. He said: “Absolutely (we can win the tournament) as we have got a strong squad. We respect the fact that there are a lot of good cricketers we will be coming across. But, at the end of the day, we feel confident that we will be playing finals.“That is the aim, to be there at the backend of the tournament. And then hopefully we have got some good form on our side and a bit of luck.“Soul beach, a part of the JA Resorts in Dubai, provided the perfect laid-back setting for the jersey launch. It is also home to the Desert Vipers squad who will be staying at this resort for the entire period of the DP World ILT20.

Podcast episode 14This special bonus episode of Vipers Voices takes place on the day of the unveiling of the jersey the Desert Vipers will be playing in during the first edition of the DP World ILT20. It features interviews with newly arrived captain Colin Munro, England fast bowler Tymal Mills, fast bowling coach Azhar Mahmood, Desert Vipers CEO Phil Oliver and Apoorva Srivastva from Rasasi Perfumes, the Dubai-based company who are the team’s Principal Sponsors. The jersey launch is the latest step on the road to the side’s first match of the tournament, against the Sharjah Warriors at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday the 15th of January.