Tymal Mills, captain of Sussex, has voiced his dissatisfaction regarding the scheduling of the Vitality Blast Finals Day, labelling it "pretty stupid." The clash with the T20I series against Australia means key England players, including Jofra Archer, will be unavailable for the pivotal matches. Mills, who guided Sussex to Finals Day in his inaugural season as captain, expressed disappointment that Archer, a crucial player, will not participate in the semi-finals and final.
The Blast Finals Day is slated for September 14 at Edgbaston, which coincides with England's second and third T20I matches against Australia on September 13 and 15. While the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is exploring options, players will only be released if they are not required for the final two T20I matches.
"As far as I know, no England players will be available, which is pretty stupid," Mills remarked following Sussex's eight-wicket triumph over Lancashire in the quarter-finals, where Archer delivered an impressive performance with figures of 2 for 20. "It's a real shame to lose a player like Jofra. The person stepping in for him will have some big shoes to fill."
Similarly affected is Surrey, who will be without several key players including Jamie Overton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, and Reece Topley. They are also awaiting updates on the availability of their Test players, Gus Atkinson, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, and Jamie Smith.
Mills highlighted the impact of the scheduling on teams, mentioning that Warwickshire will also miss key players Dan Mousley and Jacob Bethell, both included in the England T20I squad. "It’s disappointing. Finals Day is one of the most significant days of the year, and you want your best players on the field."
This scheduling conflict follows a lengthy gap of over six weeks between the end of the group stage and the quarter-finals, which Kent captain Sam Billings previously criticized as "ridiculous." However, many countries prefer this break for better ticket sales, as evidenced by record crowds at recent quarter-finals.
In his first season as captain, Mills has expressed pleasure in the team's performance, having achieved 10 wins in 15 matches. Reflecting on his leadership journey, he stated, "I’ve loved it. This is my 10th year at Sussex, and I want to win as many matches as possible. Winning the Blast for Sussex would mean everything to me."
Mills credited the team's aggressive batting approach, noting they scored 200 runs in five of their seven innings when batting first. "We’re playing positive, entertaining cricket. Our performance at Hove has improved, and I’m proud of what our coaching staff and players have accomplished. Now, we're heading to Edgbaston with high expectations of victory."