MARKRAM: MILLER 'LOOKING REALLY GOOD' AHEAD OF PROTEAS' T20 WORLD CUP OPENER

Captain Aiden Markram is excited to have David Miller fit and raring to go in the Proteas’ ICC T20 World Cup opener against Canada in Ahmedabad on Monday.

Miller, who is the Proteas’ most capped T20 International with 115 caps, was sorely missed during the closing stages of Betway SA20. 

The Paarl Royals skipper picked up a groin injury in the last group match at Boland Park and was subsequently ruled out of the playoffs and the T20 International series against West Indies. The Royals were eliminated in Qualifier 2 by eventual champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape.

But the veteran has since recovered and trained with the Proteas at the Narendra Modi Stadium and is expected to take his place in the starting line-up. 

“I think initially he was quite frustrated. He got through most of the SA20 and was in a really good space. Unfortunately, he picked up a small niggle, and that would frustrate anyone,” Markram said.

“But now he’s in a good space. He’s been training hard, doing a lot of work with the physios and trainers to make sure his body is right. 

“He’s looking really good, and the way he’s hitting the ball is a big positive for us. So, I’d say he’s in a good space now - confident, excited - and it’s great to have David Miller in that kind of mindset.”

It will be the first time the Proteas face Canada in a T20 International and Markram is fully aware of the danger the unknown poses. 

I think it can actually feel a bit tougher. 

“We haven’t played them - I certainly haven’t played them in my career. You’re not 100% sure what to expect, and that creates a new challenge. I think it can actually feel a bit tougher,” Markram said.

“When you play teams regularly, you have a good idea of their approach, their plans, the players, and their abilities. But we don’t want to put too much emphasis on that. We’d rather focus on our own skills, our plans, and executing them well. If we do that, we give ourselves a good chance.”

Full Proteas T20 World Cup squad

Aiden Markram (captain, Durban’s Super Giants), Corbin Bosch (MI Cape Town), Dewald Brevis (Pretoria Capitals), Quinton de Kock (Sunrisers Eastern Cape), Marco Jansen (Sunrisers Eastern Cape), George Linde (MI Cape Town), Keshav Maharaj (Pretoria Capitals), Kwena Maphaka (Durban’s Super Giants), David Miller (Paarl Royals), Lungi Ngidi (Pretoria Capitals), Anrich Nortje (Sunrisers Eastern Cape), Kagiso Rabada (MI Cape Town), Ryan Rickelton (MI Cape Town), Jason Smith (MI Cape Town) and Tristan Stubbs (Sunrisers Eastern Cape).

Start: 3:30pm (SAST)