MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 17: Mark Steketee of the Brisbane Heat celebrates with Tymal Mills (#72) after taking the wicket of Kevin Pietersen of the Stars during the Big Bash League match between the Melbourne Stars and the Brisbane Heat at Melbourne Cricket Ground on January 17, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Brisbane paceman Tymal Mills suffered some awkward moments before the Heat's clash with the Stars on Tuesday night on Melbourne, as the Englishman almost wasn't let into the stadium.
With captain Brendon McCullum serving his one-mach ban and spinner Samuel Badree out with injury, Mills was Brisbane's sole international player for their match against Melbourne, and he was just minutes away from missing the game as well.
"With the Aussie Open on, the traffic was terrible," Mills explained to cricket.com.au after the Heat's win.
"Luckily one of the boys was driving and those of us that were playing left the car and walked and got to the ground late as it is.
"Then I didn’t have my accreditation on me, so they wouldn’t let me in the stadium for a good half an hour.
"I ended up getting in with one of the media guys and walked through the crowd, straight onto the outfield after the warm-ups had started, quickly got my ankle strapped and came out with my gear on.
"This was all about 20 minutes before the first ball was bowled, so not an ideal start to the day.
"I was praying that we’d be batting first so I’d have a bit of time to sort myself out, but then I arrived and got told we were bowling so I was a bit flustered to be honest.
"I managed to get myself ready in time and luckily put in an alright bowling performance."
Mills finished with figures of 1-20 in his four overs with the ball, as Brisbane secured their spot in the BBL finals series with a seven-wicket win over Melbourne.