Experienced South Africa batsman David Miller has supported the new South Africa One Day International squad to clear all their World Cup memories last year before the three-match ODI series against England at home which will begin at Newlands Cricket ground on Tuesday. South Africa won only three games out of nine in the World Cup last year where eventually England won the title.
Batsmen Janneman Malan and JJ Smuts, wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne, spinning all-rounder Bjorn Fortuin and pace bowler Lutho Sipamla have been included in the squad. Moreover, they have named Quinton de Kock as their new ODI captain.
“It’s exciting,” David Miller said reporters. “It is not the normal squad everyone is used to seeing. From my side that is refreshing, it’s a new start. The guys that have come in must learn as quickly as possible. We are here to win, not to just see how things go. It’s an exciting time to be in South African cricket. The guys have got a lot of energy and are willing to learn.”
Miller is also happy with the appointment of De Kock as the captain, who replaced veteran Faf du Plessis. However, du Plessis has not been named in the squad alongside Kagiso Rabada.
“Quinny and I have come a long way. He is an unbelievable performer and thinks about things very simply. But I genuinely believe as he has got older, he has got a great feel on the ground during the game. A great understanding of what is going on and what to do,” he added.
Meanwhile, he hoped the selectors will back the youngsters as they have been chosen for the long run.
“It is about trying to find the best combination as early as possible and sticking with that. It is about doing the business on the park. It is about putting scores together as a batting unit. We are playing the world champions, but everybody is beatable. If we come with the right mindset it will be a really good series,” David Miller concluded.
