South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad has revealed that David Miller was expected to make his Test debut during the team’s tour of Pakistan in 2025. However, an injury just before the series ended the left-handed batter’s hopes of earning his maiden Test cap.
David Miller has established himself as one of South Africa’s most experienced white-ball cricketers, featuring regularly in both ODIs and T20Is. Despite his extensive international career and experience in first-class cricket, he has never represented the Proteas in the longest format.
David Miller has only played ODIs and T20Is for South Africa in international cricket
Miller made his T20I debut against West Indies at North Sound on May 20, 2010. He made his ODI debut at the same venue two days later, on May 22, 2010. The batter went on to become an important part of South Africa’s limited-overs setup, known for his ability to score quickly and finish innings under pressure.
He has played 180 ODIs for South Africa, scoring 4,762 runs in 156 innings at an average of 42.90. His highest score in the format is 142, and his record includes eight centuries and 24 half-centuries. He has also struck 354 fours and 153 sixes, with a strike rate of 104.31.
In T20Is, the left-hander has featured in 140 matches and scored 2,804 runs in 123 innings at an average of 33.78. His highest score is an unbeaten 106, while he has registered two centuries and nine half-centuries. Miller has hit 184 fours and 141 sixes in the format, maintaining a strike rate of 141.40.
Despite those numbers, David Miller has never played an international Test match for South Africa.
David Miller has scored 3342 runs in first-class cricket
Miller also had a substantial first-class career before deciding to focus on white-ball cricket. He made his first-class debut for Warriors against Dolphins in Pietermaritzburg, with the match beginning on January 24, 2008.
The South African batter played 63 first-class matches and scored 3,342 runs in 99 innings at an average of 36.32. His highest score was 177, and he registered six centuries and 19 half-centuries. He also recorded 459 fours and 42 sixes in the format.
In September 2018, Miller made himself unavailable for first-class cricket to concentrate on limited-overs cricket and his international white-ball career. His first-class career therefore ended without an appearance in Test cricket.
David Miller’s Test debut plans were derailed by injury, reveals coach
Conrad has now disclosed that David Miller was part of South Africa’s plans for the 2025 tour of Pakistan, where he was expected to make his Test debut. The coach also explained the thinking behind wanting left-handed batters in the lineup, particularly against the spin threat posed by Pakistan and India.
“I always felt that if I’ve got the right left-handers in Pakistan and India, I’ve got a chance. Because the threat in Pakistan was always going to be Noman Ali…and [Ravindra] Jadeja in India,” Conrad said on The Super Over Podcast.
He then revealed that Miller was meant to travel to Pakistan for his first Test appearance, but suffered an injury shortly before the series.
“No one knows that David Miller was meant to go to Pakistan to play his first Test match. And he got injured just before that. He was gutted,” he added.
Source: cricketaddictor.com
