I Feel Like I Am In My Prime: David Miller Fires Warning Ahead Of World Cup

While David Miller is probably not getting the attention he deserves ahead of the ICC World Cup 2023, the southpaw has no regrets about it. The left-handed batsman has been one of the most dangerous and consistent middle-order batters in recent times.

During the five-match ODI series against Australia last month, he showed his class once again. In the fourth match of the series, he scored 82 not out off 45 balls and followed it up with a 65-ball 63-run knock. Those two knocks once again showed what David Miller is capable of in white-ball cricket.

He is also one the most experienced batsmen in the South African team. He, however, is not the centre of attention as of now. David Miller highlighted the talent South Africa have and heaped praise on his teammates such as Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen and Heinrich Klaasen.

“We’ve actually got a world-class top six. 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,” David Miller told ESPNcricinfo.

“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,” he added.

David Miller on his form:

David Miller’s form in the past two years has been nothing less than extraordinary. While power-hitting was always a part of his game, he has been able to add consistency too and the combination has made him one of the most feared batters in the world at present.

Since the conclusion of the last ODI World Cup in 2019, he has an average of more than 60 and a strike rate of 114. And David Miller has fired a warning to the bowlers by saying that he feels like he is in his prime.

“I’ve been around for a long time. 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, he said.

“It’s difficult to explain why [I have success with power-hitting], but I always believe when I’m batting that the bowler panics before the batter. I just have to stay nice and calm and wait for the ball to be in my area, making sure I’m putting it away.

“If I do so, I do feel the bowler changes their plans quite quickly. Even to our bowlers, [my advice] often is to just keep it simple and stick to their plan a little bit longer as opposed to changing it quite quickly,” he added.

The ODI World Cup this year will probably be David Miller’s last. He will be 38 when the next ODI World Cup is played and is more than unlikely to feature in it. With the form he is in, the southpaw will be desperate to end on a high and power his country to its first-ever ODI World Cup title.