You vindicated me in no uncertain manner
Dear David Miller
Congratulations on your record-breaking knock in the T20 win over Bangladesh in Potchefstroom. My better half is no cricket fan (in fact, watching any sport leaves her cold), but because it was a gloomy Sunday afternoon, and for once we didn’t have something planned with the kids and grandkids, she joined me in watching the T20 at Senwes Park.
It was then that she reminded me of a conversation we had many, many moons ago. It was early in our relationship and, probably be- cause she was in that phase where she felt she needed to impress me, she had joined me to watch a cricket match on TV.
I don’t remember what match it was (I can barely remember what I ate for breakfast these days), but it must have featured the Dolphins because you were playing in it. I do remember telling her you were a gem and would one day play for the Proteas. She just thought you were cute and wanted to know if I could try, through my contacts, to introduce her to my step-daughter.
The point is, even back then it was obvious you had something special and I am delighted my prediction came true. There is something
Guy Hawthorne
about raw talent, and I felt way back then that you had it in abundance. You can coach youngsters until you are blue in the face, but if they don’t have that X factor, chances are they won’t make it at the highest level.
I know it was against Bangladesh and I know they have something of a powder-puff bowling at- tack. But, as one of my colleagues said, no matter what is being bowled to you, you still have to hit it. And hit it you did on Sunday.
I had an idea that let-off – when you were dropped off the very first ball you faced – would come back to haunt the Bangladeshis. And, boy, did it. Like their worst Halloween nightmare, you flayed their attack to all parts of the ground, at times making it look ridiculously easy.
For anyone who has played the game, it is often more difficult to bat against an average bowler than it is against someone who knows what they are doing. The pie-thrower has no real idea where his next delivery is going to go. And, as a batsman, neither do you.
But you didn’t let that bother you, manufacturing some shots you won’t find in any coaching manual. And that’s just it. Like another left-handed KwaZulu-Natalian, Lance Klusener, you have the uncanny ability to score runs off deliveries you shouldn’t score runs off.
When Lance got in and was set, he could dismantle the best bowling attack in the world as he did at the 1999 Cricket World Cup in England. His appearance at the crease struck fear into the hearts of the opposition, and I see that in you, too.
Long may it continue.