Cricket news - Rotation doesn't allow mediocrity in the squad - David Miller

David Miller, South Africa batsman, backed his team management's decision to rotate players in the final ODI against Pakistan, and believes that such a policy will ensure that mediocrity doesn't creep in their games.

Going into the decider of the five-match series in Cape Town, South Africa decided to rest Miller and test all their three all-round options - Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius and Williem Mulder - as a part of their experiment process. Even as they won the game at Newlands comfortable, courtesy Quinton de Kock's brisk half-century, they did put the series at stake with a larger view of getting their best combination ahead of the world cup.

Miller backed the idea and said, "We've all committed to the bigger cause. We all want to win the World Cup as a country. If the selectors or coach or captain want to try out different guys, you've got to accept the decisions. That's something we've all committed to as a team. There's definitely a bigger picture. It's nice to have refreshed players as well. It doesn't allow mediocrity within the squad. You've constantly got to be on your A game."

The destructive southpaw, who has been in good form in the last couple of years, didn't have the best of outings in the series, returning with scores of 16, 31* and 4 but believes he is in a good space after getting some much-needed rest. With the Mzansi Super League following right after South Africa's tour of Australia, there was little rest for Miller.

"I feel really good, to be honest," Miller said. "I had three weeks off. I was in the gym quite a bit, ran a bit, and enjoyed my time off. I think mentally I was a little bit rundown towards the end of last year, but I had a good break and I feel it did me good. I've been training really hard, and I feel in a good space with my game. And there's a lot of cricket ahead, so I needed a bit of a break."

However, just before the Pakistan series, he had stroked a 108-ball 139, stitching a 252-run alliance with Faf du Plessis against Australia. Speaking of his century, Miller said, "All those kinds of performances go down as experience. At the end of the day, the next game is just as important. It's really nice to have had that, but it has come and gone."

Over the years, Miller has established himself in the second half of the middle order, enhancing his reputation as a finisher. While his big hitting prowess gives him the much-required skill to essay that role, he believes, having spent so many years in that role has helped him adapt to the requirements better.

"It's pretty much been my career," he said. "You mould yourself around that and you've got to make it happen. That's something that I've been working on. You don't get it right every time, but that's the aim - to practice with the intention of finishing a game. Wanting those moments. That's been my role for many, many years and I take it onboard."

Even as the focus is on the 50-over format with the World Cup coming up, Miller isn't willing to rule out the importance of the upcoming T20I series against Pakistan, and believes that a good performances can help the players put themselves in the reckoning for a spot in the showpiece event this year in England.

"It's a different format, but every format you play for South Africa you do have an opportunity if you really excel to put up your hand in that sense," he said. "It is around to the corner to the World Cup, so I don't see why not, if someone does extremely well. Saying that, there have been a lot of guys getting chances over the last 18 months. It's definitely a good stepping stone for the World Cup.

"T20, globally, there's a lot of contracts around the world now. So as a youngster, if you do well in the international arena, it gives you the opportunity for other formats in South Africa, but also abroad as well. It creates a lot of opportunity."