Miller looking for a good year
West Indies spinner Nikita Miller made a positive start to 2009 and will be looking to keep up the good work. The left-arm orthodox bowler sent down six overs and took 2-26 in his first bowl of the year in the second One-Day International against New Zealand at Christchurch last Saturday.The effort helped the Windies to restrict the home team’s batsmen and take victory in the match by five wickets and with it a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. The 26-year-old was not part of the team for the two-match Test series, but joined just before Christmas for the two T20 Internationals and the five One-Dayers.
"It was my first bowl in a match for the tour and I really enjoyed it," Miller said as he looked back at last Saturday’s game. "The pitches are different from those at home and the conditions are cold. It has been a challenge, but I made the adjustment quickly and I think I handled myself pretty well in the first match."
He added: "All in all I was happy with the performance. I put in the hard work before the match and got some reward. Hard work pays off all the time, so that’s the way I see it."
Miller’s next assignment will be in the third ODI at Westpac Stadium on Wednesday and he is eagerly looking forward to it. First ball is at 2 pm (Tuesday -- 9 pm Eastern Caribbean Time/8 pm Jamaica Time).
"For me as a young player I always try and put myself on trial. I am not a permanent fixture in the team and even though it is not a trial match as such, I always treat it as a trial. I always give 100 percent and more and look to get better and better each time I go up there," said the soft-spoken Miller, who made his international debut in July 2008 against Australia.
"I’m confident and will be looking to put in another quality performance [on Wednesday] and in the two matches after that as well. It will be a busy year for the West Indies team so I’m looking to put in quality performances so I can have a good year and the team can have a successful year as well."