David Miller, the senior-most player in the current South African T20 World Cup squad has dwelled upon the advice of a good friend and former Proteas skipper Hashim Amla to find inspiration ahead of the start of their World Cup campaign.
"I had the privilege to play with him [Amla] for many, many years and I suppose what I have learnt from him is to not let failure get you down. We are striving for consistency in performance and, off the field, trying to be a consistent person as well,” Miller was quoted as saying to ESPNCricinfo.
But how being a nice person according to Amla’s advice helps? To answer this, the 32-year-old Miller said, "The famous old saying is that you are only as good as your last game, but Hashim always said to me (you're only as good as) your next game. It's about resetting the clock and the mind, and trying to control and really be in the present.”
"That's what I have really enjoyed about Hashim and his influence, being nice and calm, being a pillar of strength; the silent assassin. He was about getting the job done but more so, being nice and consistent as a person. It has been a good journey with him and I still keep in touch with him and will continue to do that during this World Cup for any advice,” added the Proteas who has played 90 T20Is so far.
South Africa hasn’t been able to win a World title ever and now with New Zealand winning the World Test championship and England having won the ODI and T20I World Cups, the Proteas remain the only major team without the silverware. Can they do something different this time? Only time will tell.