Exclusive: Miller and Van der Dussen’s Future in Doubt? Former Proteas Star Calls for Change

Former Proteas batter, Farhaan Behardien, weighed in on South Africa's semi-final exit after suffering a 50-run loss to New Zealand at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Wednesday.

Proteas outplayed, and did not throw semis away

The 41-year-old, who is currently with the South Africa Masters squad competing in the Masters tournament in India, emphasised that the loss to the Blackcaps last night boils down to being outplayed.

The former middle-order pointed out that South Africa did not throw away the game from a winning position like they have done so many times in the past.

"I think yesterday we didn't lose the game. Yesterday we got beaten. There's a difference. We got beaten yesterday. New Zealand won the toss, batted first, got 360," Behardien told SportsBoom.co.za. 

"We were beaten before Miller's heroics towards the end. So it wasn't like we were in a position to win the game and then we never got over the line. We were never in a position to win the game. So that is a silver lining."

Is it time to move on from Rassie and Miller?

With the next ICC 50 over event being in South Africa in 2027, and given that there are few current Proteas players in their mid-30s, Behardien reckons now might be a good time to have conversations with those players about the future.

Rassie van der Dussen and David Miller are both 36 years old this year and will be 38 when the 2027 ODI World Cup gets underway.

"I think Matthew Breetzke and Tristan Stubbs are obviously pushing really hard to be in that batting lineup. I think Klaassen is still young enough, he's 34, so he'll definitely be at the World Cup in 2027," said Behardien.

"Tony de Zorzi will be there, Stubbs will be there and Ryan Rickleton will definitely be there. I suppose Rassie van der Dussen and Miller would probably be the two key conversations that would need to be had."

"David Miller's statistics in tournaments for our country are sensational. He will be 38 come that tournament. Virat and Rohit Sharma, they're playing and Rohit's 38 at the moment."

"If that's what Rob Walter wants, if he wants David Miller at the 2027 World Cup, which is probably a year and a half away, he can do that. he must just manage his workload, and get him to the World Cup. A World Cup at home would be something awesome for him to sign off on."

"Because David Miller's role is so unique, I think he is probably in a slightly better position than Rassie van der Dussen because there are younger batters that can bat in that top three."

"Stubbs, Matthew Breetzke, Rickleton, De Zorzi, Temba Bavuma. There's a combination of players there. You have to move on some players at some point. So I think those conversations need to be had really soon."