Brisbane, Australia – In a triumphant return from a hamstring injury, Australian fast bowler Nathan Ellis took three wickets for just nine runs, helping Australia secure a 29-run victory over Pakistan in the first T20I at the Gabba on Thursday night.

Ellis, who missed Australia’s entire tour of the UK in September due to the injury, made a spectacular comeback, sending down two overs and dismissing former Pakistan captain Babar Azam with his very first ball. His performance was crucial in Australia’s win, which sets the stage for the remaining matches in the series.

Key Details:

• Who: Nathan Ellis, Australian fast bowler
• What: Three-wicket haul in first T20I against Pakistan
• When: Thursday night, November 15, 2024
• Where: The Gabba, Brisbane, Australia
• Why: Ellis’ return from a hamstring injury
• How: Ellis took 3-9 in his two overs

Injury Setback: Ellis was devastated when a left hamstring injury forced him to miss Australia’s tour of the UK in September. The tour included three T20s against Scotland and three T20s and five ODIs against England. Ellis, who was set to lead the Australian attack in the absence of stars like Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitch Starc, played none of the 11 scheduled games and was sent home early.

Successful Return: After extensive rehabilitation, Ellis made a triumphant return to the Australian team. He bowled two overs, taking the wickets of Babar Azam and Mohammad Irfan Khan, and finished with figures of 3-9. His immediate impact was a significant boost for the Australian team.

Quotes:

• “To miss any (games for Australia) is obviously disappointing, but that tour specifically, I knew I was going to get a good opportunity and a good run in it to play some games for Australia,” Ellis said after the match.
• ”It was one I had pinned in the calendar, knowing the schedule and the workload the stalwarts (Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood), I knew I was going to get a good run at it. So to miss that was really, really disappointing,” he added.

High-Octane Performance: Ellis’ approach to bowling remained unchanged despite the reduced overs in the match. “It’s high-octane, it’s adrenaline, my stuff doesn’t really change,” Ellis explained. “It felt like I got hit in a face, my first game back tonight. It was ‘bang’ and things were happening real quick.”

Next Matches: The series moves to Sydney for the second T20I on Saturday night, followed by the final match in Hobart on Monday. Ellis’ successful return has bolstered the Australian team’s confidence as they look to secure victory in the remaining matches.

Additional Information:

• Ellis missed 11 games on the UK tour due to injury.
• He took wickets of Babar Azam and Mohammad Irfan Khan.
• The match was reduced to 14 overs per side.
• Ellis wore his lucky black Casio watch during the game.

Conclusion: Nathan Ellis’ impressive performance in his return match has set a high standard for the upcoming T20I series. His resilience and skill were on full display, making him a key player to watch as the series progresses.