COVID rule forces England star of out Scorchers' next game

Western Australia's tough COVID-19 border closure has forced England fast bowler Tymal Mills out of the Perth Scorchers' next KFC BBL|11 game.

The Scorchers return to Optus Stadium next week after their crushing 53-run win over the Hobart Hurricanes at Blundstone Arena on Tuesday night, for what could be their last game in Perth for the summer.

The Scorchers play the Hurricanes again at Optus Stadium on Monday with a venue for their remaining four home games yet to be finalised, although their clashes against the Melbourne Renegades and Melbourne Stars on December 26 and 30 appear likely to be at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne.

But Mills, who only linked up with the Scorchers squad for his first game of the tournament last night, revealed he would miss the match in Perth due to the WA border closure.

The 29-year-old left-arm quick only arrived in Australia a week ago from the Abu Dhabi T10 tournament where he was in the same team as Melbourne Stars recruit Andre Russell, who hit 90 not out off 32 balls in the final to guide their Deccan Gladiators to victory.

Western Australia still requires anyone arriving from overseas to complete 14 days of hotel quarantine. Their border is also closed to every state and territory except Tasmania.

"I don't think I'm allowed to play the next game because I'm not allowed into WA so I'll come out and somebody else will come back in," Mills said on the Fox Cricket broadcast after last night's game.

"We've got a strong squad, we've got some really good players on the bench as well, some guys are going to come in and out.

"I'll just go with the flow, go to where I'm told to go, stay where I'm told to stay and bowl when I'm told to bowl."

The loss of Mills will hurt the Scorchers, after he took 3-23 off his four overs against the Hurricanes – his best figure in the BBL – but it could pave the way for Matthew Kelly to come back into the side, who was dropped after taking 4-28 two games ago.

"It's always nice to get a good a performance in the first game, get your feet under the table, so something to build on moving forward," Mills said.

Mills will be primarily based in Hobart until he links back up with the Scorchers ahead of their fifth game of the season against the Renegades in Melbourne on December 22.

Mitch Marsh, who was also playing his first game of the season for the Scorchers, starred with an unbeaten 100 off 60 balls as Perth leapfrogged the Sydney Sixers to the top of the BBL|11 table.

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