Tymal Mills may be forced to retire from first-class cricket after being diagnosed with a congenital back condition. Mills, who is thought to be the fastest bowler in English cricket, moved to Sussex from Essex over the winter and has been seen as an England bowler of the future.
The 22-year-old broke down in the early weeks of the season and he has been diagnosed as having a narrow spinal cord which he has been warned could cause substantial mobility problems if he continues to bowl.
“I have accepted that I might not have a future in first-class cricket,” Mills told ESPNcricinfo. “It is absolutely gutting and I had a very difficult 48 hours when I first heard the news. I haven’t completely given up on the dream of playing Test cricket but, realistically, it looks as if my future may be in the shorter formats. I still want to play 50-over and T20 cricket.”
Sussex have said Mills will play no first-class cricket for a couple of months and specialists have advised he will probably have to limit his bowling load significantly. Mills bowled in their NatWest T20 Blast victory over Gloucestershire on Sunday and took three wickets.
A career as a T20 specialist seems the most likely solution for Mills who only weeks ago was thought of as one of the most exciting prospects in England. “I just hope nobody portrays me as a mercenary,” he said. “This isn’t a case of me not wanting to bowl; it’s a case of me having a medical condition would could affect my future. It’s all been pretty hard to take.”
