How Tye broke the ice with idol Steyn

Australia T20 paceman Andrew Tye is relishing playing alongside perhaps the best fast bowler of the generation, Dale Steyn, in this season's Indian Premier League.

Tye has begun his second stint in the IPL with new outfit Gujarat Lions after spending last season with suspended two-time champions Chennai Super Kings.

While Tye failed to get a game in the star-studded CSK starting XI, the Western Australian will now be fighting for a spot with one of his fast bowling idols.

"For me, it's a highlight being here (with Gujarat), being able to pick his (Steyn's) brains," Tye told cricket.com.au in Rajkot.

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"I'm glad he's on my team so I never have to face him.

"He's just another different type of bowler you can learn from. 

"I love gathering information, I love learning, I love figuring out what works well in different conditions."

Tye said he broke the ice with Steyn by recalling one of his fondest memories of the Proteas pace ace from almost a decade ago. 

Bowling to Craig Cumming in Centurion in 2007, Steyn delivered a vicious bouncer which zoomed past the batsman's hopeful hook shot and into the grille of his helmet, shattering Cumming's cheekbone and breaking his jaw.

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"Obviously I hoped Craig was alright and he has recovered fully from what I can gather, but just the fierceness in Dale's attitude and bowling (has stuck with me)," Tye said.

"Then he (Steyn) bowled the exact same ball to the new batsman (Scott Styris) – (the ball) fizzed past his face and (Steyn) gave him a big stare.

Image Id: ~/media/BCB9BED2A6C9450F93EB4049DBDE969A Image Caption: Steyn checks on Cumming's welfare after hitting him with a bouncer // Getty

"It's the sort of thing I can only dream of being able to have that pace. 

"It's what you love seeing as a fast bowler. Obviously you don't like seeing people get hurt, (but) it's part of cricket.

"He had a bit of a laugh and still feels sorry for it."

While the Lions are still assembling ahead of their first match against Kings XI Punjab on Monday in Mohali, those who have arrived had an intra-squad match on Thursday night, with the likes of Steyn, captain Suresh Raina, Brendon McCullum, Aaron Finch and James Faulkner all participating. 

"It was good to get out there and play some competitive cricket, albeit within our own team," Tye said.

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"It's always good to have some change-room banter if you get one up on the other guys. 

"It was good to get amongst it and see what the blokes can do."

The match was an 18-over per side contest followed by four super over drills where Tye was handed the ball for one of the tie-breakers.

Tye's inclusion in Australia's World T20 squad earlier this month was off the back of superb performances for the Perth Scorchers in the KFC Big Bash League, where he used is extensive inventory of slower balls and change-ups to cleverly restrict opposition batsmen at the back-end of the innings.

In three matches for Australia, Tye has bowled the final over on each occasion, and was on the wrong side of the result on two occasions against India and South Africa. 

"It's something I've become accustomed to, being a death bowler," he said. 

"It's one I've down well for the Scorchers, not done quite as well for Australia. 

"It's all part of the learning experience and that's the role they see me in here. 

"That's why I'm here I guess. I just embrace it and bring on the challenge."