Nathan Ellis strikes gold as hard work pays off

He may still be a BBL rookie, but he is already an integral part of the Hurricanes’ bowling attack and strong start to the season.

NATHAN Ellis is the Big Bash rookie with a calm and confident head on his shoulders who, after taking the One Day Cup by storm, has his sights on the BBL.

The former NSW paceman is the ultimate story of hard work and perseverance, moving to Tasmania two years ago to come from the clouds during the 50-over campaign – playing all seven matches and finishing as the state’s leading wicket-taker for the tournament.

It included a stunning 5-38 against a star-studded Blues outfit containing eight current or former Australian Test representatives.

And after being denied his maiden BBL wicket for the Hurricanes in heartbreaking fashion in Moe last Sunday – a replay showed he had marginally overstepped after bowling Nic Maddinson – Ellis showed he has the perfect temperament to succeed in the Twenty20 cauldron.

Nathan Ellis has formed part of a potent trio of pace bowlers for the Hurricanes. Picture: AAP/ROB BLAKERS

The 25-year-old rebounded from his Moe mistake in perfect fashion on Christmas Eve against the Melbourne Renegades, finishing with 3-15 from three overs, with his victim the big scalp of Shaun Marsh, which also ended a 74-run union with Aaron Finch.

Despite his inexperience at the top level, Ellis has been entrusted with the responsibility of bowling the ‘death’ overs, a feat he has so far executed sublimely with his mix of perfect yorkers and change-ups.

“Starting with two sort of country games in Alice Springs and Moe, then you come to Blundstone, it was quite surreal for the first few overs,” Ellis said of playing in front of the biggest crowd (8865) of his career on Tuesday.

“I haven’t been more nervous than that ever before my first ball. It was surreal, I’m definitely walking on cloud nine and just stoked to be here.

“Obviously it [the Maddinson no-ball] was quite deflating, at the time they were flying as well so it was more the feeling of letting the boys down in a way.

“It’s a bit of a funny one, you can get a bit counter-productive, the harder you try. You run in as hard as you can to get a wicket and it gets taken off you.

“But I won’t be forgetting that one [the Marsh wicket] any time soon.”

Nathan Ellis celebrates a wicket against the Melbourne Renegades. Picture: STEVE BELL/GETTY

Through Hobart’s first three matches of BBL|09, Ellis has formed a dangerous combination with speed demon Riley Meredith and left-armer James Faulkner.

The trio give the Hurricanes attack plenty of variety. Throw in left arm finger spinner Clive Rose and Afghan wizard Qais Ahmad and it is a bowling line-up that has the potential to carry the side deep into the tournament.

“I was nervous coming into the Big Bash but I was also quietly confident in terms of the white ball stuff being my strength, it is something I have been working really hard on the last four, five years,” Ellis said.

“While I want to be executing everything I can, I also feel a sense of confidence in terms of I’ve put in the hard work.

“I have to back my ability on the day and if it comes off, it comes off.”