Paarl Royals<\/a> captain said.\u00a0<\/p>\n\u201cIn the early phases with the bowling machine, throws, really grooving that swing and hitting thousands of balls in the slot. Over time, you really figure out your swing plane. You realise like how hard you need to hit it. You know, all these kinds of things, the technical side of things you figure out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Miller has certainly \u201cfigured it out\u201d with the veteran among the most distinguished short-format finishers on the global franchise T20 circuit. The left-hander\u2019s ability to hit a long ball has carried him a long way, but he admits that being consistently successful has a lot more to do with what\u2019s happening between the ears than any which way he swings his bat.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m really a feel type of player. I want everything to be second nature,\u201d he said. \u201cI don\u2019t want to be thinking too much about it. And that comes through preparation and hitting lots and lots of balls. You know, so that for me, mindset again comes over time.<\/p>\n
\u201cConfidence, mindset, belief, all those kind of things come over time. Once you win a game and you actually hit a six and you do it again, you know, OK, I can do this again. You know, and so the confidence builds. So, yeah, you kind of put it all together.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also admits that even at 36 years old now, and despite playing over 500 T20 matches, and being the second highest all-time run scorer for the Royals with 701 at an average of 36.89, he still gets butterflies before every game.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s always nerves. There\u2019s always pressure. The heart rate\u2019s racing,\u201d Miller said. \u201cBut that for me, you know, over the years, it\u2019s what gets me out of bed. I really want to perform.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really want to do well and I want to compete at the highest level. You\u2019re never going to be successful all the time. It\u2019s accepting that, but making sure that you understand the conditions, understand what is required in terms of run rate and bowlers who\u2019s still to come.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just putting all that together and really making sure that I stay really calm, but it\u2019s hard to do that. I think like whoever cracks first between the bowler and the batter often you try and put it onto the bowlers. Just accepting the fact that you can\u2019t control everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
Miller will lead the Royals into battle for the fourth successive season when Betway SA20 Season 4 <\/a>begins on Boxing Day. He will be hoping his team progresses to a maiden Betway SA20 Final after three consecutive playoff appearances, and he believes his relationship with coach Trevor Penney will go a long way in achieving the goal.\u00a0<\/p>\n\u201cCaptaining the Paarl Royals for another year is an honour. For me, it\u2019s a new start,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, we did really well the last cycle, getting to playoffs every year and not getting the trophy, but I think, you know, doing really good things. So, for me this year, it\u2019s a fresh start.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got Trevor Penney as our head coach, who is very, very experienced. Been around for years and understands the players and understands the game. So, it\u2019s really, you know, working alongside him. We\u2019re going to put together some really cool and exciting things for the team.\u201d<\/p>\n
All roads will lead to Boland Park on December 27 for the Royals\u2019 season opener on December 27 against two-times champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n