By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@DavidMillersa12.
Proteas will tap into the confidence of IPL champion David Miller when they kick off a busy 2022-23 season with five T20Is in India next week.
Miller is coming off the back of an excellent IPL campaign for the Gujurat Titans, who won the tournament at their first attempt.
The Proteas finisher scored the fifth-most runs in 2022, with 481 in 16 matches at an average of 68.71 and a strike rate of 142.72. He hit two half-centuries, including an unbeaten 94.
The 32-year-old said he had felt really secure in the Gujurat set-up and would like to bat for longer for the Proteas.
During a digital media conference on Tuesday, ahead of the Proteas’ departure to India for a five-match T20I series, captain Temba Bavuma was asked if Miller, who batted at No 6 in last year’s T20 World Cup in the UAE, could move up the order.
“David performed exceedingly well at the IPL,” said Bavuma. “I’m sure it will do the world of good for his confidence.
“If there are feelings of insecurity, then I guess we would need to have those conversations. In conversations I’ve had with David he’s never expressed those types of feelings to me. As far as I know, David is still an integral member of our team and his performances will continue well into the future.
“In terms of him batting a bit longer, that’s always been the conversation over the years. David has done well and he kind of understands where he fits in within the team. But if he feels he can add more value in a different position then a conversation can be had in that regard.
“There’s no way that we’re going to stifle or restrict David in any way or manner,” Bavuma added. “I think that’s how we treat all the players – we try to set them in positions where they can succeed and make strong plays for the team.”
The Proteas will play the first of five T20Is against India in Delhi on 9 June, less than two weeks after the end of the IPL.
The two teams last played a T20I series in September 2019.
India vs South Africa T20I series:
9 June: 1st T20I, Delhi
12 June: 2nd T20I, Cuttack
14 June: 3rd T20I, Vizag
17 June: 4th T20I, Rajkot
19 June: 5th T20I, Bengaluru
Meanwhile the Proteas will play three Tests, including a Boxing Day Test at the MCG, and three ODIs on their tour of Australia in December and January.
The first Test will take place in Brisbane from 17-21 December followed by a first Australia-SA Boxing Day Test in Melbourne and New Year’s Test in Sydney in 13 years.
The three ODIs will be played in Hobart, Sydney and Perth in January, but the dates remain unconfirmed after an “11th-hour” request from Cricket South Africa to Cricket Australia to have them reconsidered.
The tour forms part of a marathon five-month schedule that will thrust Australia into at least 27 games in front of home supporters, rising to 29 if they reach the T20 World Cup final in Melbourne on 13 November.