David Miller criticized South Africa’s quick trip to Dubai for their Champions Trophy semi-final, calling it ‘not ideal.’ The match concluded with a loss to New Zealand, who set a record score of 362-6. Miller performed well individually but noted the challenges of the scheduling and the pitch conditions during the match.
South Africa batsman David Miller criticized the team’s brief trip to Dubai prior to their Champions Trophy semi-final against New Zealand, calling it “not ideal.” This unusual scheduling forced both South Africa and Australia to fly to Dubai from Pakistan, with South Africa’s stay lasting under 24 hours without playing a match. While Australia stayed longer, they ultimately lost to India in the semi-finals.
Following their victory against England in Karachi, South Africa’s journey to Dubai was especially frustrating for Miller, who noted that the early morning flight left little time for recovery. “It’s only an hour and 40 minute flight, but the fact that we had to do that was not ideal,” he stated. The scheduling issues arose as India chose to host all their games in Dubai, refusing to play in Pakistan due to political reasons.
In the semi-final, Miller scored an impressive 100 not out off 67 balls, but South Africa lost to New Zealand by 50 runs. The Black Caps set a Champions Trophy record with a score of 362-6, aided by strong performances from Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson. Miller acknowledged the difficulty of chasing high scores, noting, “It’s not easy chasing 360 even if it’s a good wicket.”
He commented on how the pitch conditions worsened throughout the match, attributing New Zealand’s advantage to their spinners, especially Mitchell Santner. Despite the loss, Miller expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming final, stating, “I’ll be honest with you, I think I’ll be supporting New Zealand.”
David Miller expressed dissatisfaction with South Africa’s scheduling, highlighting the impracticality of flying to Dubai and back before their semi-final. Despite Miller’s strong individual performance, the team’s poor logistics contributed to their defeat against New Zealand, who advanced to the final with a record score. Miller’s support for New Zealand in the final reflects his recognition of their strength despite the setback.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
