T20 World Cup 2021: 'You're Only As Good As Your Next Game' - David Miller Learning From Hashim Amla's Words Of Wisdom

South Africa powerhouse David Miller will keep in mind former teammate and legendary batsman Hashim Amla’s advice while playing in the T20 World Cup. The left-hander has imbibed some sagacity from Amla as South Africa eye their maiden senior men’s World Cup trophy.

South Africa won their first warm-up game comfortably against Afghanistan. But this doesn’t mask the struggles the players and the team as a whole have faced over the past year, both on and off the field.

“The famous old saying is that you are only as good as your last game, but Hashim always said to me [you’re only as good as] your next game. It’s about resetting the clock and the mind, and trying to control and really be in the present,” David Miller was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

Amla, who recently played County Championship this year, was part of all of South Africa’s World Cup squads for the last decade – both T20I and ODI.

David Miller, who is going to be key for South Africa in the batting department, looks to take the experience from Amla and use it to his aid on the mental and cricketing aspects.

“I had the privilege to play with him for many, many years and I suppose what I have learnt from him is to not let failure get you down. We are striving for consistency in performance and, off the field, trying to be a consistent person as well.

“That’s what I have really enjoyed about Hashim and his influence, being nice and calm, being a pillar of strength; the silent assassin. He was about getting the job done but more so, being nice and consistent as a person. It has been a good journey with him and I still keep in touch with him and will continue to do that during this World Cup for any advice,” the southpaw stated.

In terms of leadership, it’s nice to be a part of the group: David Miller

Apart from his batting, the Proteas will also need David Miller on the leadership front considering they have a new and inexperienced skipper in Temba Bavuma. For the 32-year-old who has travelled around the world playing white-ball cricket, sharing his experiences about the UAE surfaces is another way of contributing to the team.

“In terms of leadership, it’s really nice to be a part of the group and share my experiences. I feel like we [some of the senior members of the squad] have got a lot to add off the field – what we’ve learnt in the IPLs, in the previous IPLs and when we played here in Dubai for South Africa against Pakistan. Leadership is something we are taking on more and more, and hopefully, it all plays itself out in results,” David Miller added.

South Africa will open their T20 World Cup campaign against Australia on Saturday in Abu Dhabi.

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