Looking forward to next year's ICC Cricket World Cup in England, South African batsman David Miller feels that the marquee event is going to be a very tough challenge for the Faf du Plessis led side, as the Proteas will have “big shoes to fill” in absence of the outstanding AB de Villiers.
De Villiers, who announced his retirement from International Cricket at the end of the eleventh edition of the Indian Premier League this year, amassed 22 centuries in 114 Tests and 25 in his 228 ODIs for South Africa and scored 8,765 runs at an average of 50.66 and 9,577 runs at 53.5 in the two formats respectively. His is a very very difficult void to fill for cricket.
"Yes, we have big shoes to fill. Actually, I don't think we will be able to fill it, to be honest with you. But at the same time as I said to so many people, someone steps in and we can still win some games. The atmosphere in the dressing room has been extremely good. Life moves on and we got to take the opportunity when it comes," Miller told CricketNext.
Having helped South Africa clinch the three-match ODI series in Australia, 2-1, with an outstanding knock of 139 off 108 balls in the series-decider at Hobart, Miller, who has now played 112 ODIs and 63 T20s at the highest level, further said, "I am actually enjoying where my cricket is at with the decision(retiring from first-class cricket to focus solely on the limited overs game) I made, but yes obviously disappointed at the same time."
Skipper Faf du Plessis and David Miller hit centuries and shared a 252-run partnership in Proteas' imposing first innings total of 320 but during 33rd over of the narrative in Hobart, something slightly controversial happened, as Glenn Maxwell got one to go past the bat of Miller and been hit straight into the pads, the left-hander was subsequently given out lbw by on-field umpire, Aleem Dar.
Presuming the high probability of the decision staying as it is, Miller and Faf contemplated but didn't review until, at the very last moment, the right-hander raised his hands and requested Dar to go upstairs, before the decision was eventually overturned on hawk-eye, proving it to be too high.
This is was all legitimate, but the replays actually indicated that it took the pair about 18 seconds to ask umpire Aleem Dar for a review, which is basically longer than the allowed 15-second window.
The incident raised a controversy and debate around, but since then the visiting camp has cleared their stance on the matter saying that Dar didn't actually hear the initial call for a review.
Reflecting back at the unfortunate incident, Miller informed, "I spoke to Faf about it and he said 'it was close'. Faf opted for the referral before me and the umpire didn't see that and he didn't go upstairs,” before reiterating, “When we clarified our position he said 'it's too late' but we told him that Faf has already referred the decision some moments ago.”
"He (Maxwell) said I was lucky, But obviously I have had some bad decisions in my life. Every cricketer gets good or bad decisions in his career but you have to take it when it comes,” he signed off.
