Follow UsSouth Africa know first-hand that there are no easy games in the 2023 ODI World Cup. Playing against the Netherlands, the Proteas were beaten in the most convincing of fashions, in Dharamsala, handing them one of the two defeats in this year’s competition.
Heading into the clash against Afghanistan, the South African batter David Miller insisted that there are no easy games in this year’s World Cup. While stating that, the Proteas batter also revealed that they have had a close look at Afghanistan’s bowling unit ahead of their clash in Ahmedabad.
“Yeah, they've (Afghanistan) been really, really good to watch. They're a team that's certainly growing in confidence. They've showed that they can compete. I mean this World Cup they've done really, really well, beaten some big teams,” Miller said ahead of the clash against Afghanistan.
“It's something that we're very aware of at World Cups that there's no easy game in the game of cricket. So just to make sure that we're really well prepped with whatever game we're playing and team we're playing,” he added.
“It's been good to watch the Afghanistan group going the way that they have with the spinners that they've got, the batters up front, they've done really well. Their opening stands have been really good. And then contributions throughout the innings is from the other batters.”
South Africa’s last test before heading into the semi-final to face Australia is up against Asian side Afghanistan. Afghanistan gave Australia a real scare before a one-man show from Glenn Maxwell changed the course of the proceedings at the Wankhede the other night. Miller expects the conditions to have spin and insists that South Africa are up against the battle of spin.
“It's pretty cliche, just sticking to what we know best. Obviously, there's conditions that play out accordingly in whatever game you play, but you've got to play the ball and adapt as quickly as possible, so yeah, the conditions are always there in every country that you play in - It's just about being better, out skill the opposition on the day,” Miller stated.
“The ground here is a great ground. Normally a good wicket, there probably will be a bit of spin, knowing Afghanistan with their spinners that they've got. So, just kind of being aware of that and obviously, as I mentioned, adapting on the day to whatever is thrown at us.”
India absolutely battered South Africa in the previous game, and it also showed the other sides a pattern of weakness that the Proteas’ unit have - chasing. South Africa haven’t been the best team while chasing, and Miller reckoned that it is all about adapting to the conditions.
“Probably a mixture of a few things - it doesn't help losing a couple of wickets up front and be on the back foot, as well as some really good bowling from the opposition. So yeah, I think we have chased a lot of games in the past, and I don't think it's something that is a huge issue at all. The guys certainly have the skill and believe that we can chase anything. I think it's just comparing to what we have done batting first, which has been exceptional,” Miller on South Africa’s woes with chasing.
“We haven't been horrific chasing, it's just been one or two games where we slipped up, which is part of the game. We have spoken about and dissected in that and yeah, I mean it's just about making sure that we've got that platform and giving ourselves the best chance to chase down a total.”