Reflecting on his unique record, Miller, who is now 34 years old, remarked, “I would have loved to play a Test, but it is what it is. I’ve achieved quite a lot in my white-ball stuff and I’m grateful to have played so many games.”
While Miller has established a solid first-class record, averaging 36.32 in 63 matches, with six centuries to his name, he ultimately made his mark in limited-overs cricket, bolstered by his electrifying fielding skills.
However, during his early years, South Africa boasted a formidable Test batting lineup that included cricketing stalwarts like Jacques Kallis, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, and Faf du Plessis. Meanwhile, white-ball cricket was gaining prominence and proving to be more lucrative for players.
In 2018, nearing his 30th birthday, Miller made the decision to retire from first-class cricket. He explained, “I wasn’t being picked, even for the South Africa A side. There were guys ahead of me, so I decided to concentrate on the white-ball stuff.”
Miller’s prowess with the bat and his ability to clear boundaries have made him a sought-after player for franchises around the world. He has represented an impressive total of 22 different representative teams and is particularly beloved by South African cricket fans, who often display banners proclaiming ‘Killer Miller‘ and ‘It’s Miller Time.’
He belongs to an exclusive club of just four players who have scored over 3,000 runs in one-day internationals with an average above 40 and a strike rate exceeding 100. The other members of this elite group are AB de Villiers and England’s Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow.
David Miller is renowned for his ability to hit massive sixes, and he has even cleared all three grandstands at his home ground, Kingsmead in Durban. Notably, he once hit a ball out of the stadium during a match against Australia at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.
Miller shared an amusing quote about his big-hitting approach: “If it’s in the arc, it’s out (of) the park; if it’s in the vee, it’s in the tree.” He attributed this saying to his father, Andrew Miller, who was a skilled club cricketer playing for Natal Country Districts.
However, Miller’s game is not solely about power-hitting. Batting at number six in a side without established all-rounders, he often finds himself in situations where he must take responsibility for rebuilding an innings.
He described this aspect of his game as akin to a chess match, saying, “It’s about summing up the situation. Sometimes you are batting with the lower order, and you have to decide with your partner at the time how you are going to go about it. It’s like a chess game at times. You are thinking about moves and what’s important and what’s not. It’s about making clear decisions. It helps your execution when you are fully committed.”
This adaptability and composure were evident in a recent series against Australia, where South Africa had to win the last three matches after losing the first two. In the fourth match, Miller played a stunning unbeaten innings of 82 off just 45 balls, partnering with an inspired Heinrich Klaasen to add an astounding 222 runs off 94 balls for the fifth wicket. In the deciding match, Miller played a more measured innings, scoring 63 off 65 balls in challenging conditions, helping South Africa post a defendable total after a difficult start.
Looking ahead to the World Cup, Miller believes the competition is wide open. He expressed confidence in the South African team, stating, “We’re a pretty experienced team. We’re capable of doing it, so it’s a matter of getting the basics right for longer periods of time.”
(With AFP inputs)