South Africa's David Miller previews their game with Afghanistan at ICC Cricket World Cup

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00:00 Sorry, probably a weird sort of game to, yeah, okay, let me start again.

00:08 Sort of a weird sort of game because whatever happens you already know who you're playing

00:14 in the semi-final.

00:15 So, why do you guys sort of look to get out of it?

00:19 Yeah, I don't think any international game is kind of a weird game.

00:24 I think for us it's just continuing what we've really done in this World Cup and just nailing

00:31 down on areas that we want to improve on from the previous game.

00:36 And yeah, I think it's a great opportunity to showcase what we can do and get some momentum

00:45 into that semi.

00:48 David, I think people who are not from India will think, "Oh, it's slow and it turns everywhere

00:55 you go."

00:56 And we've seen in this competition that that's really not the case.

00:58 Mumbai swings like mad.

01:00 How do you internalize the changing conditions and what do you expect to get here?

01:07 Yeah, I mean it varies from city to city.

01:11 So just kind of seeing with preparation before the games, two or three days out or the day

01:20 before.

01:22 We were here last night with some fielding on the outfield and obviously there's a bit

01:26 of dew around.

01:27 There's dew every place.

01:30 But yeah, I think it's just more, you know, it's pretty cliche just sticking to what we

01:37 know best.

01:38 I mean, obviously there's conditions that play out accordingly in whatever game you

01:42 play, but you've got to play the ball and adapt as quickly as possible.

01:50 So yeah, the conditions are always there in every country that you play in.

01:56 It's just about being better, out-skill the opposition on the day.

02:02 I mean, the ground here is a great ground.

02:07 Normally a good wicket, there probably will be a bit of spin, knowing Afghanistan with

02:11 their spinners that they've got.

02:13 So just kind of being aware of that and obviously, as I mentioned, adapting on the day to whatever

02:23 is thrown at us.

02:25 David, hi.

02:28 How much flexibility is there between Aidan, Klaasie and yourself?

02:37 And did you speak about that before the tournament?

02:39 And the New Zealand game, was that a match-up thing too subtle for us to understand?

02:45 Or was that just because you deserved a hit?

02:48 No, not at all.

02:49 I think it was more tactical with the left-right.

02:52 There was a small boundary.

02:55 So at the time, we had done a great, there was great foundation with the guys up front.

03:02 And that's kind of when we've done well, we've had a great foundation and allowed the three

03:09 of us to go and play the way that we can.

03:12 So yeah, it was more just using that left-right combination towards the back end of the innings.

03:19 And look, I think Aidan and Klaasie have showed their skill and class in this tournament and

03:29 prior to this as well.

03:30 So I think there always is being adaptable and flexible with certain things.

03:37 But at this stage, that particular game was left-right.

03:40 Dave, as a number six, has Glenn Maxwell inspired you to hit a 200 from that position?

03:49 Of course.

03:50 Seeing a knock like that was really special.

03:54 He's an X-factor, a match winner.

03:58 It was inspiring to see no foot movement there and still hitting sixes and fours.

04:04 And from a game where they were dead and buried.

04:08 So we've seen from our side, we've chased games where we're kind of out of it as well

04:15 and done certain things that was particularly special though.

04:20 But yeah, I suppose where the game of cricket is going, you kind of always believe as you

04:28 go along.

04:30 You just tick over the balls, get through the overs and kind of see how it unfolds.

04:37 And you never know what is possible.

04:40 So just to keep believing throughout.

04:42 David, just on that, as you said they were in a pretty out position there, Australia,

04:52 and then there was this idea of belief.

04:54 What's your version of why South Africa have chased unsuccessfully twice and then successfully

04:59 the once at this tournament?

05:02 Probably a mixture of a few things.

05:05 It doesn't help losing a couple of wickets up front and be on the back foot.

05:11 As well as some really good bowling from the opposition.

05:14 So I think we have chased a lot of games in the past and I don't think it's something

05:21 that is a huge issue at all.

05:25 The guys certainly have the skill and believe that we can chase anything.

05:31 I think it's just comparing to what we have done batting first, which has been exceptional.

05:38 So we haven't been horrific chasing.

05:40 It's just been one or two games where we slipped up, which is part of the game.

05:45 We have spoken about and dissected in that.

05:48 It's just about making sure that we've got that platform and giving ourselves the best

05:52 chance to chase down a total.

05:56 Mihir from the Indian Express.

06:00 What do you make of Afghanistan's run through this World Cup?

06:03 From your point of view, what's the good thing?

06:06 Anything that you like about them?

06:07 They have been really, really good to watch.

06:11 They are a team that is certainly growing in confidence.

06:14 They have shown that they can compete.

06:18 This World Cup they have done really, really well.

06:22 Beaten some big teams.

06:25 It's something that we are very aware of at World Cups.

06:27 There is no easy game in the game of cricket.

06:31 Just to make sure that we are really well prepped with whatever game we are playing

06:36 and team we are playing.

06:38 It's been good to watch the Afghanistan group going the way that they have.

06:43 With the spinners that they have got, the batters up front, they have done really well.

06:47 The opening stands have been really good.

06:50 And then contributions throughout the innings from the other batters.

06:53 They are a really strong team.

06:57 Hence they have a chance to make the semi-finals.

07:02 It's good to see, that's the joys of World Cup.

07:07 You see different teams doing well.

07:09 People that don't necessarily rate a certain team exceeding in a certain phase of the World

07:16 Cup.

07:17 It's great to see good for cricket.

07:21 What do you say about the Ahmedabad wicket and the largest stadium?

07:31 The largest stadium?

07:34 It's pretty big.

07:35 I think it's 120 or 30,000 people.

07:40 I have played a few games here with the Goodriot Titans and had the pleasure of playing in

07:46 front of a full packed house.

07:49 It's a place that you kind of want to play cricket.

07:52 It's a great facility.

07:53 Nice wickets, good outfield.

07:57 If it's a full packed house tomorrow, I really hope it is.

08:02 It's always a good spectacle here at this ground.

08:06 Really excited for what lies ahead.

08:09 Potentially being here in the final.

08:10 It will be a great achievement.

08:16 I understand that you guys are one game at a time.

08:20 But the semi-final has been set now against Australia.

08:24 What's the feeling in the camp and personally about coming up against them, who you faced

08:29 quite often recently?

08:31 We played them before the World Cup.

08:32 A kind of dress rehearsal there.

08:35 We've played them quite a bit in the past.

08:38 We know what to expect.

08:40 They're always a competitive team.

08:43 They've got some incredible players and match winners amongst their team.

08:47 I think from our side, as you mentioned, one game at a time tomorrow is really important

08:53 for us to nail down things that we want to work on.

08:59 And then come semi-final, obviously it doesn't really get better than that.

09:06 A lot of excitement.

09:10 Just a great occasion to be a part of.

09:12 We missed out in 2019.

09:13 We made the semi in 2015.

09:18 Really excited to be back in the semis and have a great opportunity and great shot to

09:23 make the final.

09:24 David, I know you're not the right person to ask this, but Andile's been the only player

09:31 that hasn't had a chance.

09:33 Has there been any chats in the team that he might get a go tomorrow?

09:37 And secondly, how has he been around the team with not getting a game?

09:43 Has he been positive still or what's he been like?

09:46 I don't know why you asked me the question then.

09:50 No, I honestly don't know.

09:57 I haven't had any conversations with the coach and captain and certain people according to

10:03 the selection with Andile.

10:05 But in terms of the team and where we're at, the guys have been phenomenal off the field.

10:11 Really supportive and done their roles and trained really hard.

10:17 You see Riza Hendricks got a game, came in and did really well.

10:21 Guys are mentally ready and if there happens to be a game, I'm 100% sure he'll be firing

10:29 on all cylinders.

10:30 So he's certainly given a lot to the team and brought a lot of energy.

10:36 So it's been great to see and that's the kind of things that we want from the team, to still

10:42 pour in and give and not just take.

10:45 So it's been great.

10:46 David, not a lot of people back home would have ever been here or known what it's like

10:53 to call this maybe a second home with your IPL.

10:56 If you could tell them a bit about this place, not just the stadium but being in Ahmedabad

11:02 and that sort of thing, what would you tell them?

11:05 It's really hot and dry heat.

11:09 But a great place.

11:11 I haven't really got out to the city to try different restaurants and stuff but the food

11:18 is phenomenal at the hotel.

11:22 It's always good to come to India, you always get looked after really well.

11:25 The people are friendly and extremely helpful.

11:29 So that's always a nice thing, coming to India.

11:33 Along with this ground, as I mentioned, it doesn't really get better than this with the

11:38 stadium that we've got.

11:39 It's a phenomenal stadium, it's got great atmosphere and I'm just really looking forward

11:46 to what lies ahead.

11:48 Potentially having a game here in the final and it's good to play cricket here.

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