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Temba Bavuma insisted David Miller still remains in South Africa’s ODI plans for the 2027 World Cup.
South Africa stars David Miller and Temba Bavuma (AP/PTI)
Captain Temba Bavuma has confirmed that veteran left-handed batter David Miller remains part of South Africa’s ODI plans for the 2027 World Cup, despite not being included in the squad for the upcoming series against England, which starts at Headingley on Tuesday.
Miller, 36, has been absent from international cricket since South Africa’s journey to the 2025 Champions Trophy semi-final in March, after which he signed a hybrid contract with Cricket South Africa (CSA).
Miller opted out of South Africa’s white-ball tour of Australia in August to participate in The Hundred with the Northern Superchargers and is not included in the ODI squad for England. However, he will return for the three-match T20I series starting on September 10.
Will David Miller Play ODI World Cup?
Bavuma explained, “What I understand is that those communications were done during his contract times, in terms of him being available during this period for the Hundred. Essentially, he wasn’t available for selection – but I stand by the correction around that… David’s still within the mix in the ODI stuff, if that answers your question.”
“The Australia tour would’ve coincided with the Hundred. I guess any international commitments that occurred during the Hundred, David wasn’t available for. Unfortunately, the one-day [series] it clashes with: he wasn’t part of our build-up. But then with the T20 stuff, the Hundred is done, he’ll fall back into the team,” Bavuma quoted as saying to reporters on Monday.
Miller, who will be 38 when the 2027 World Cup takes place in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, averages 42.30 in ODIs with a strike rate of 103.68 over more than 150 innings. His recent form in The Hundred was impressive, scoring 133 runs in five innings for the Superchargers.
South Africa will also be without Matthew Breetzke and Kagiso Rabada in Tuesday’s series opener due to minor injuries. Bavuma noted that the series in England is part of South Africa’s long-term preparation for the 2027 World Cup. “That’s the bigger picture… But we’d like to bring ourselves back to here and what we need to do to be successful in England.”
(With inputs from IANS)
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes cricket content, havin…Read More
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes cricket content, havin… Read More
Read More
