South Africa vs England: 3 Proteas players to watch out for in the ODI series

2. David Miller

David Miller is going through a rough patch in the current phase of his career. The gun middle-order averaged over 52 with a sublime strike rate of around 110 in the time period between 2015 and 2017. However, since 2018, the stocks of Miller have fallen by a fair margin. In 22 innings since then, he has an average of less than 37 and a strike rate of around 93.

In this duration, the southpaw has played 14 innings in which he has faced more than 25 deliveries. And, nine out of them have ended at a strike rate of less than 90. At home since 2018, Miller averages mere 31 and has a below-par strike rate of about 85. So, that’s not a positive for Miller and South Africa, both.

He has issues against spinners and his work will get tougher only – with Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid in England’s XI. The 30-year-old should ideally bat at five which will allow him to take some time before going berserk in the death overs. Miller is an excellent power-hitter of pace bowling and South Africa will need for the T20 World Cup 2020 in Australia. Although that’s a different format, regaining his form in ODIs will assist him in the shortest format as well.