David Miller is enjoying his new role as a wicketkeeper in the Proteas setup.
Having taken the gloves from Quinton de Kock in the first T20I against Sri Lanka at Newlands, Miller did well enough behind the stumps to increase confidence in his ability to act as backup wicketkeeper in this year’s World Cup.
Of the role, Miller says: “It’s not a natural thing [for me to keep wicket].
“I’ve been a keeper in the past when I was growing up, but not in professional cricket.
“So I am as comfortable as I can feel.
“I prepared pretty well for it and it’s not something that they’ve just decided to stick me in at keeper, I prepped pretty well.
“The more I’m going to work on it, the more it’s going to feel comfortable.”
INJURY BATTLE: Proteas' Quinton de Kock. Photo: Raghavan Venugopa
Whether Miller will be the man behind the stumps in the second T20I at SuperSport Park Friday (6pm) remains to be seen.
De Kock has been struggling with a niggling finger injury.
But the South Africa selectors have a third option in possible debutant Sinethemba Qeshile.
If Qeshile cracks the nod, Miller, who was South Africa’s hero with the bat in hand after scoring 41 to help them tie the match at Newlands before winning the bowl-out, will concentrate on his No.1 job; batting.
Of his form with the bat in hand, Miller says: “It’s been an interesting summer, I am really feeling confident and good.
“In the ODIs I didn’t really get the opportunities I wanted - the guys in the top order did really well.
“I just want to keep on contributing and it’s nice to put in a performance like that.”
RISING: Sinethemba Qeshile could get game. Photo: Supplied
With Sri Lanka having scored only 134/7 before South Africa matched that with eight wickets down at Newlands, Miller expects more sixes and more runs at Centurion Park in the second T20 as well as in the series finale at the Wanderers on Sunday (2.30pm).
He concludes: “It’s always nice to go to the Highveld.
“Those are two great grounds and they are a little bit smaller, so you always look forward to the Highveld”