Tye proves to be Scorchers X-factor

Last season it was Craig Simmons. In 2015 it has been Andrew Tye. The WACA just keeps producing feel-good stories.

This time last year Tye was watching from the stands as Perth Scorchers lifted the Big Bash League trophy at the WACA Ground.

He had played a couple of games with the Sydney Thunder, but his heart was with the men in orange as they celebrated out in the middle.

Tomorrow night in Canberra, the all rounder will play a key role in whether the Perth franchise goes back to back.

If he can do it, he says it will be a moment he never forgets.

“Last year I was really pumped for them and really wanted to be part of the team,” Tye said.

“To get out here this year and play the way I have and get the team into the final, I am thrilled.

“I can’t wait.”

Tye has been a major cog in a special bowling attack which has regularly defended low scores.

The 28-year-old has been extremely economical, but broke through for four wickets in Sunday night’s semifinal man of the match performance.

His message to the Sydney Sixers batting lineup was that they should fear the beard.

But he knows as well as anyone that he might not have had the chance to impress had the Scorchers not been hit with injury earlier in the season.

“We were a bit under-strength and I was just happy to go out there and fill in when I needed to and I’ve now made that spot my own so I can’t be happier.

“We’re (the bowling group) just brawlers, we get into the scrap.

“We’ve got one of the hardest guys in Australian cricket ever as our coach so we go out there, with every single ball, we’re fighting to stop a single run.”

Coach Justin Langer said Tye’s emergence as a force in the BBL competition was yet another tick for their program.

“It’s a great story,” Langer said. “Where he has come from in the last couple of years, he turned up to training a couple of years ago and that microphone was probably more fit than he was.

“We flogged him and flogged him and he just kept turning up.

“He was vomiting and crying and he didn’t know what had hit him.

“He is super fit now and he’s a great success story. “A bit like Craig Simmons last year, he is another great success story for our program this year.”