It’s Miller time again in Durban
SPECIAL: STAR BACK PLAYING ALONGSIDE HIS ‘MATES’
Ken Borland
Watching the swashbuckling David Miller blazing away at the crease it seems to be all about enjoying the game for the left-hander and the Proteas star said yesterday that the fun factor had been a major part of his decision to return to KwaZulu-Natal to play for the Dolphins.
Miller returns to the province of his birth after two seasons with the Knights, the central franchise having also lost another key batsman in Theunis de Bruyn back to the Titans.
“I have played with a lot of the Dolphins guys from about 11 or 12 years old and it makes the game even more special playing alongside your mates. Coming back is the next step in my career and I hope that I can help the Dolphins to more success in the future while enjoying the game a lot. They have a good team spirit going and I wanted to be part of that.
“My two seasons with the Knights were great. They were just what my career needed. My time there challenged me in different areas but it was quite an easy decision for me to come back to Durban.
“I do a lot of travelling so the travel between Durban and Bloemfontein became an issue and I am happy to be back where it all started for me,” Miller said at Kingsmead.
The 28-year-old was the Knights top T20 batsman last season and, given he is one of the world’s best white-ball cricketers, his return could get the Dolphins one step further after they were beaten finalists in the Ram Slam T20 Challenge and shared the Momentum One-Day Cup title.
“The Dolphins had a good season in white-ball cricket last year and they are building something special. I am looking forward to adding to that this season.
“I have heard a lot of good things about coach Grant Morgan, his passion for the game and his work ethic beyond training and matches. It is exciting,” Miller said.
“You can’t put a value on having a guy like Dave back in his home environment. What sits in his heart are his family and friends, and it’s in his DNA to want to do well for the Dolphins,” Morgan said. “His international experience is also invaluable. He’s played around the world in pressure situations. And he’s a fantastic human being.
“We are on the up, we’ve laid the foundation and I’m sure he can give us that extra little push to take us to the next level.”