When David Miller was declared unbeaten at the end of
South Africa’s 50 overs in Centurion earlier this month, all the cheers were
directed at Heinrich Klaasen’s bizarre 174 off 83 balls, which helped his team
to 416 against Australia. Few people would look at an innings of 82 not out off
45 balls and think it played second fiddle to another knock in a game.
Miller, the most seasoned member of South Africa’s ODI
World Cup squad, shouldn’t be going unnoticed before what is most likely going
to be his final attempt at the championship.
He doesn’t mind if he isn’t the centre of attention.
“We’ve actually got a world-class top six,” he says. “Quinton de
Kock has that power up top, Aiden Markram strikes easy boundaries, Rassie [van
der Dussen] can literally destroy the opposition, Klaasen… we’ve got a lot of
power-hitters in the top six. I’m sure the coach would be open to moving me up
one or two games, seeing how a game goes, but for now, I think we’ve pretty
much got our structure and it seems to be working.”
Miller is in form right now, though to be honest, that
doesn’t really narrow things down much. His remarkable run has spanned genres
and seasons for so long that it no longer feels like a purple patch but rather
the glittering conclusion to a career that feels like it still has plenty of
room to grow. Although his ODI rise in that period has been on the verge of
stratospheric, his considerably improved T20 cricket statistics since 2021 have
made him an even more sought-after commodity in the franchise league circuit.
“I’ve been around for a long time,” he says.
“I do love what I do – I think that’s very important. When you go through
tough times, it gets you through. But I feel like I am in my prime; I have been
for the last four years, and I’m playing really good cricket. And as long as I
can keep my body fit and healthy, I can play.”
The majority of South Africa’s ODI issues have
occurred during World Cup cycles rather than between tournaments. Miller’s
stats may have increased over the last four years, but in the 2019 World Cup,
he and the squad were weak imitations of the quality they dish out in bilateral
series, dressed in a pale counterfeit of the vibrant green South Africa often
wears. South Africa was eliminated after only one of their first seven games
after Miller only managed 136 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 86.
Miller himself, 34, doesn’t look like he’ll be walking
away from South Africa soon, though, even as the T20 offers have continued to
pile in.
“It is a demanding sport, but I really do love
playing cricket. I love playing for my country; that’s my priority. That has
never wavered, not at all. Doing well for my country opens up opportunities
outside around the world. As long as I’m staying relevant and doing my trade
really well for South Africa, it keeps me in demand outside of South Africa.
Whatever the case, my priority is South Africa. I suppose it can be demanding,
but as long as I’m mentally in tune as to where my movements are and what I
need to do, then I’ll stick to it.”