Miller sweating over mini Ashes expectation
TJ Miller hasn’t stopped the chatter since earning the nod for Sunday’s mini Ashes but it’s the boisterous backlash from the Poms he fears most.
The opening bowler admits it’s a proud moment to line up in the green and gold – albeit on a smaller scale – on the Australia Day weekend.
He is fully aware, however, a loss in the inaugural Cricket Gold Coast contest between Australian and English players at Runaway Bay will open up a painful can of worms.
“As soon as I heard about the game I haven’t stopped talking,” he said.
“I’ve been giving it to the three Poms from Burleigh.
“They are all perky now, leading 3-0 (in the one-day international series) but I remind them the proper (Ashes Test series) cricket was 4-0.
“But we are never going to hear the end of it if the Poms beat us on the Australia Day weekend.”
Miller predicts nerves in both camps given the significance of the contest.
“It’s a bit of a weird feeling,” he said. “It’s an honour to put on a replica Australian shirt and pants.
“Everyone walking there will have butterflies.”
While both sides will be loaded with top talent from various representative sides, a out congested first grade schedule has left little time for training.
“It will basically be a case of turning up on the day, handshake with the boys, have a run-through for half an hour and be ready to roll,” he said.
“We want to make it a fun day but [with] the calibre of player on both sides, no one wants to turn up and lose. It will be highly competitive.”