InMobi

Shift to spin a surprise for Scorchers' breakout star

Looming as a key player in Saturday night's WWBL|07 Final, Perth Scorchers spinner Lilly Mills made a career-defining change four years ago

Perth Scorchers revelation Lilly Mills says she used to terrorise her siblings with her pace before a chance conversation with a coach four years ago put her on the path to spin.

Mills managed just one Weber WBBL game during her two years at the Brisbane Heat after being stuck behind Jess Jonassen and Amelia Kerr in the spin pecking order.

But the 20-year-old has become a surprise star at the Scorchers this season, snaring 16 wickets at an average of 12.81 to help lift her side into Saturday's decider against the Adelaide Strikers.

Mills looms as a key figure in the final at Perth's Optus Stadium, and she couldn't help but laugh when thinking back to her childhood memories of playing cricket with her siblings.

"I'm one of six kids. It was always pretty competitive around the household," Mills told AAP.

"Obviously being an older sister - I have two younger brothers - I think I might have scared them off cricket a bit.

"We didn't have a massive backyard, so the pitch was quite short.

"I was just a young kid trying to bowl as fast as I could after seeing Mitchell Johnson trying to take the Poms' heads off.

"I don't think we got many backyard cricket matches after that."

Image Id: 38F83E3229C3469FBC91B1BAA3B1E000 Image Caption: Lilly Mills in action against the Hobart Hurricanes during WBBL|07 // Getty

Mills made it into the Queensland talent pathway as an allrounder during her younger years, but her ticket into the various teams was as a batter, given the strong bowling line-up already on offer.

Becoming a spinner wasn't on the radar at the time.

"I was bowling one day at training and the coach tapped me on the shoulder and was like, 'why don't you give that (spin bowling) a go?'," Mills said.

"That was about four years ago. Now I've turned into a bowler that doesn't bat much.

"It just goes to show sometimes you haven't found your niche yet."

WA Cricket hope to attract a crowd in excess of 42,000 at Optus Stadium.

If the Strikers prevail, it will be a remarkable achievement given they were involved in elimination finals on Wednesday (beating the Heat) and Thursday (beating the Renegades) before flying to Perth on Friday for Saturday's final.

The Scorchers secured direct entry into the decider after finishing on top of the table.

WBBL|07 Finals

The Eliminator: Adelaide Strikers beat Brisbane Heat by eight wickets

The Challenger: Melbourne Renegades lost to Adelaide Strikers by nine wickets

The Final: Perth Scorchers v Adelaide Strikers | Optus Stadium | November 27 at 4.10pm local (7.10pm AEDT)

Grab your tickets or tune in on the Seven Network, Fox Cricket, Kayo, the CA Live app or listen on ABC radio