Nathan Ellis' journey to becoming the Hurricanes' go-to death bowler is a story of persistence.
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The hero in Tuesday night's four-run win over Melbourne Renegades after restricting the home side to just six off the last over, Ellis left his native New South Wales three years ago to pursue domestic selection.
Two impressive seasons at Lindisfarne led to a state call-up and after cleaning up three Test representatives in a maiden domestic five-for in October, Ellis returned to grade cricket to take a career-best 9-30 against South Hobart-Sandy Bay.
The 25-year-old is one of only four Hurricanes to have played every game this BBL campaign and has stepped up to lead the bowling attack in the absence of injured quicks Riley Meredith and James Faulkner.
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"This year's been a whirlwind for me - it's my third year down in Tassie and I thought I was just plying my trade in the grade set-up," he said.
"Leading into this year I was questioning whether to stay or to move back to Sydney back with my family - I decided to stick it out and thankfully I did, I've got the opportunity and I'm really thankful for that.
"Since then I've just tried to do everything I could to keep my hat in the ring for selection and whilst doing that try to learn as much as I can as well as take it all in.
"In that regard it's been an unreal experience for me, but really good for my cricket as a whole moving forward, I absolutely love it."
Now that he's broken into the state's best XI, the Casio watch-wearing tearaway has no plans of leaving.
"I love it down here, I got my opportunity down here and I consider myself a Hobartian now."
"Whether other people do or not that's fine, I love it down here and I want to play as much cricket as I can for both Tassie and the Hurricanes if they'll have me."
Ellis experienced the full Big Bash rollercoaster on Tuesday night, conceding just 12 runs off his opening two overs before being brought back for the 18th over.
Back-to-back Mohammad Nabi sixes led to a 20-run over which brought the Renegades back into contention, but Ellis held his composure to take 1-6 off his fourth and win the game.
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"In that sort of instance it's part of the game getting hit for fours and sixes," he said.
"There was only one ball I wasn't happy with and that went for six, but in turn you've got to put it down to a couple of good shots from a world class player in Nabi.
"I think the biggest thing for me I've learned so far is that your good balls can go for six as well - you're playing against good batters and I think the best bowlers who succeed are the ones who can brush it off and bowl that next ball as if the last ball was a dot or a wicket."
Ellis' Hurricanes will meet fifth-placed Sydney Thunder in a do-or-die fixture at Bellerive Oval on Friday night.
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