David Miller’s job was simple for a man of such promise, and was the best in order for him to proceed to his daily dose of ruining everything, doing all what he could do to disrupt the rhythm of the bowlers that had a reputation of having what it takes to come out on top against a man that just let everything seemed as if anybody can do it, yet it is only he that can.
But, while there was no doubt that he can dominate bowlers to the extent that they don’t want to see his boyish face, yet mature in that it looks a bit of both, there was one’s to ponder that he could only do one thing. Although Miller was still fast getting to the point that he seems to be in equality to the likes of his seemingly brothers –at least in the way that they played- he was still a work in progress and there was needed that he must be polished of, to erase the rough edges that kept him from being what he had the potential to be.
The flamboyant punisher made everything look so easy with his job of being the thick glue that held everything together, when his team needed a set-up for the latter stages where they needed to accelerate, prior to being the bomb that destroyed, and he was the chief maker when he was needed to produce his true colours. It was his way of playing, and that was how he wanted it. And it worked for him.
That is why Miller was so successful: he found a way to what worked for him, on the basis of the plan that he has seen work the best for him. And what he did was right. He was a treat to watch when everything seemed just right as it was. Things were not meant to change. Everything was as it was supposed to be, and an established member of one of the world’s most respected forces was starting to show that he could build an innings so that he could unleash an onslaught that would form the cornerstone of their challenge.
After a slow start to his career, he showed just what he could do, and he became the man behind the thinking of how they must do. From a man that was in every sense a man still trapped in a boy’s body, he matured and showed his worth just when there was a school of thought that he was never quite going to dominate bowlers as what there was thought when he first came onto the scene.
The 26-year-old made his chance count, as the amount of maturity that he had shown in spurts, yet could not carry on with it, was replaced by a habit to keep his head, and, most importantly, not want to go to big, too early, by being not what he was before he further strengthening his all-round game, scoring 130 from 133 balls against the unique culture of the West-Indies.
Miller headed the senior core of lesser experienced, and hardened by knowing what to do, players, and he knew that he had a job to do: to build an innings, on the basis of those before him who had failed to produce the goods, or just continue on the good work if the Proteas’ first up options had set a platform to build on.
And he had survived the arduous task that had been presented to him, and come out on top. But, while he had done what was expected of him, it was against lesser opposition that he had done it, and when the true test came, he struggled against the world-class teams that were a notch up, and more prepared to negate the challenge that he set upon them. Once he was tested more than ever before, it showed cracks in his technique, and it was quickly exploited by those who knew how to.
His threat was rapidly diminishing, as was the power that he was capable of inflicting on enemies, and what he once was, was not there any longer. And, also, confidence can do a great deal to how you act. Unfortunately, the more Miller was getting unearthed to have the technical weakness of playing down the wrong line, and that his head was falling over, keeping him from getting the balance that he needed, and that made him one of the most feared batsmen in the world, the more he struggled to regather the form that he needs to secure himself a permanent berth in an elusive side.
A distraught Miller has cut a sorry figure, since he has been a man unable to find the type of form that the majority of his team-mates are enjoying, and in this case we must not think about ourselves –we must think about what would be the best for him to be back to where he was when he made the sort of impact that most aspiring kids may dream of.
Depletion to a lower level can be the best for him at this stage of his journey, and although he may take it personally, he should understand that he can make some runs that can resurrect his career to where he is comfortable with. It may be just the answer for all the critics that have shouted over and over on deaf ears that he should be thrown out of the side.
But, rather than to completely throw away such a bright talent, it makes more sense to give Miller one last chance to prove himself, at that for the SA ‘A’ team. After all, if he can overcome the barrier, he is rightful to take his place on merit, rather than after a brief period there are sudden calls that the majority of fanatic cricket fans have missed him. But if he does not, other players based on form, not that the potential laying underneath will take preference over the undoubted ability that Miller can change the course of a contest in as short a space, as fellow flamboyancy, likewise in the talent of AB de Villiers, can take over the role that he has done with mixed success.
It is true that one has to deliver the goods on a regular basis to remain ahead on the challengers that are eagerly awaiting on a chance to show what they can do, and if you do not do as you must, a depletion can be just the thing to take back your place as part of a unique journey, at the expense of those who you gave a place for in the first place.
Likewise to a boyish man in his youth, as Miller is, Quinton de Kock, is a perfect example of one who came back, and has been back to the form that we have been used to since his sudden burst first up. De Kock was send on a mission to the hot and humid conditions of India that may come as quite a shock to those who have not seen or been there before, and he prepared in a manner that saw him knock up three centuries in a row in intense heat for the SA ‘A’ side.
That part that he was there adapted him well enough so that he displayed the same sort of form that he showed on the big stage when it really counted.
Miller is in a similar situation as his junior counterpart was, still brightly etched into us supporters’ minds, and he won’t mind that the same is done to him. Maybe it will work for him as well and it is worth a try. If it works we may see him show the sort of form that made him earmarked as a man that can be the potent factor that he can be, and the coup de grâce will be that he will once again be the inspiration for ambiguous youngsters that wanted to be like him.