David Miller

With no AB de Villiers in this South African setup, Miller knows that this is his time. If he gets going, there will be fireworks

The Cricketer | 08/05/2019 at 11:31

Born: June 10, 1989

Role: Left-hand bat

“If the ball’s in the arc, it’s out the park” – the words of David Miller back in 2013. It was an apt description of the left-hander’s bludgeoning ways, supplied by the man himself.

In an era where the ability to clear the ropes is a necessity rather than a bonus, Miller ranks among the very best. Few strike as clean a ball as the 29-year-old who, perhaps, counts as a rarity on the international stage.

Going into the World Cup, Miller has played 190 times for South Africa. Yet, despite his longevity – he made his Proteas debut in 2010, he still awaits a first Test cap. It is a statistic that seems out of kilter for a batsman with an uncomplicated technique and a fielder with one of the game’s stronger arms.

Yet, for all of Miller’s talents, there are those who would argue that Miller – schooled at the same Maritzburg College as both Kevin Pietersen and Jonty Rhodes – has never truly fulfilled his enormous potential.

It was five years after his ODI debut that he finally struck a maiden hundred – one of just five in 120 ODIs. His first T20 international fifty arrived in 2016. Of course, both quirks say as much about his role in the side as they do of his own struggles.

On pure talent alone, Miller has always remained worth persisting with. He has been part of the Kings XI Punjab squad in the IPL every year since 2012, briefly captaining the franchise in 2016.

With no AB de Villiers in this South African setup, Miller knows that this is his time. If he gets going, there will be fireworks.

SOUTH AFRICA PLAYER PROFILES

Hashim Amla

JP Duminy

Quinton de Kock

Andile Phehlukwayo