In the V, in the tree - The saga of David Miller

David Miller – it is not a name the Royal Challengers will forget in a hurry. After all, none of the big names from the other teams had managed to belt a hundred in 38 balls against them in this season. Yet, a young upstart did it, leaving the Men in Red shell-shocked.

“Who is this guy? ” wondered all.

The 23-year-old South African southpaw has the composure of a battle-scarred veteran cricketer and all the exuberance of youthful aggression. A product of the famous Maritzburg College (alma mater of cricket great Jonty Rhodes), Miller’s journey into international recognition wasn’t all that easy. On his first tour for the national side against the West Indies in 2010, he gave a fair account of himself, but did not cause too much of an impact. What made everyone sit up and take notice was the way he scored his runs – with power and precision. It was almost like the clock had turned back to the late 1990s, when Lance Klusener was a force to be reckoned with; Miller’s pyrotechnics looked eerily similar.

Confidence is the key to his fearless approach. Grace and elegance have no place in his technique – they are best left to the purists and those obsessed with footwork. His philosophy is to hit the cricket ball with so much power that it stays hit. This propensity may change with time, since no batsman can continue to play the same way throughout his career. But for now, it is a visual treat to watch him in full flow. The advice of Graham Ford and former SA first-class player Harry Brown, and the benefit of their experience, have held Miller in good stead since he attended Maritzburg for secondary learning.

But his road to international success was marred with rejections- he was overlooked for the 2008 U-19 World Cup, but plied his trade for the Dolphins, scoring heavily in their 20-over & 40-over competitions and earning a reputation as a clean striker of the ball. With Lance Klusener having retired and Albie Morkel misfiring, the Pietermaritzburg lad was touted as being the next big thing in SA cricket. In 13 matches played before the 2011 World Cup, Miller managed just one 50 – against Zimbabwe, while fellow debutant Faf du Plessis made 60 on debut and was chosen in the final squad ahead of the dashing southpaw. The second sting of rejection was almost too much to bear.

And that’s when Kings XI Punjab signed him to their franchise. The presence of former Aussie quick Jason Gillespie in the coaching staff (and later at Yorkshire) and the constant advice & suggestions from thunderbat Klusener (who took over as Dolphins coach) slowly helped the then-22 year old rebuild his confidence. He starred with the bat for the Dolphins, quickly establishing himself as a batting mainstay, and returned to the national side a new man. A 95-ball 67 against Pakistan signalled his intentions to cement a place in the team, and the whirlwind knock against RCB has only amplified that belief.

Miller is grounded, mature and level-headed for his age. His family roots have played a huge role in helping him keep his feet on the ground. Father Andrew must have been very proud after witnessing his son massacre the RCB bowlers (giving the buccaneering Chris Gayle a taste of his own medicine) and muttering the immortal words:

“If it’s in the V, it’s in the tree. If it’s in the arc, it’s out of the park.“

He didn’t just direct the ball into the tree or out of the park that night. He struck hard at the mighty RCB bastion, and it crumbled in the face of his relentless onslaughts. And by doing so, David Andrew Miller has sent a powerful message to all cricketing nations: Take me lightly at your own risk.

As the IPL nears its closing stages, I wonder how many missiles will be deposited into the trees. This is only just the beginning of things to come. Till then, the saga of David Miller continues.