Colombo, February 11 Nathan Ellis, whose well-disguised slower delivery on the first ball bamboozled Ireland opener Ross Adair in their T20 World Cup opener here on Wednesday, said he "doesn't want to feel any pressure" about not bowling a particular delivery just because it's the first ball of his spell.
In the absence of players like Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc, Ellis stepped up as the leader of the Australian pace attack and returned excellent figures of 4/12, including bowling that beautiful slower ball from the back of his hand that crashed into Adair's stumps.
At the post-match press conference, Ellis was asked to explain his decision and the confidence to bowl that delivery first up.
"Yes, something that I've really tried to challenge myself on is trying to bowl on the first ball. I vary my approach; sometimes I bowl on the first ball, sometimes I don't, but I want to be able to bowl any ball, any ball that I have, on the first ball of a game," Ellis said.
"I use the Big Bash a lot to challenge myself to do that. You get a lot of different conditions, a lot of different wickets, and a lot of different batters. So, yes, I don't want to feel any pressure or nervousness about not bowling a certain ball just because it's the first ball."
This was Ellis' career-best performance, while experienced leg-spinner Adam Zampa also took four wickets.
"I don't see myself as the leader of the (pace) attack. It means a lot for me to be here in the Australian jersey at a World Cup. That's probably the biggest thing.
"So, we've had a really good start. We're all looking forward to tonight. So, yes, it's good to get the first win out of the way."
Australia, whose first-choice pacers were ruled out due to injuries in the run-up to the tournament, saw captain Mitchell Marsh miss the game due to a groin injury, further weakening the side, but they overcame that to start their campaign on a positive note.
"Yes, he's been a little sore over the last few days, so poor bugger, you don't envy a man in that position. We got an inkling probably yesterday, and it played out today, so it's never a great scenario for the team when you lose a captain, but also for the person who goes to bed last night thinking they're not playing and then has to come in," Ellis said.
"But in terms of disruption with the team, we've got the easiest, most easy-going group in the world. Travis Head stepped in as captain, and his heart rate probably doesn't get above 25 at the best of times.
"So, yes, thankfully, obviously, we all want Mitchie there, and we love Mitchie leading us. But yes, it wasn't spoken about too much, and we just try to hit the ground running."
Asked about an update on Tim David's chances of playing in the next game, he said he has been training well.
"I hope so. Tim is eager to get a game, and he's training really well. As far as I've seen him, he's been training for six weeks at home, which he doesn't often get to try and get himself fit and strong and get in the gym.
"So, yes, he's flying, he's running, and fielding. And yes, as I said, he's hitting the ball miles. So I hope we'll see him in the next game. If not, maybe the game after that. Not sure," Ellis said.
