Headingley return on the cards for t20 final batting hero (From Gazette & Herald)

Headingley return on the cards for t20 final batting hero David Miller

9:35am Tuesday 9th October 2012 in Sport By Graham Hardcastle

South Africa’s David Miller expects to return to Yorkshire for next season.

Talks have taken place between both parties about the 23-year-old returning to Headingley for their Friends Life t20 campaign, although he would be open to playing all forms of cricket for the Tykes.

The left-handed batsman is back in Yorkshire colours today for their opening Champions League t20 qualifier against Uva Next from Sri Lanka at the Wanderers in Johannesburg (12.30pm UK).

He linked up with his team-mates yesterday afternoon following his participation in a four-day draw for the Dolphins against the Warriors in East London.

Miller then flies out of Johannesburg tonight to return to four-day duty with the Dolphins in Pietermaritzburg on Thursday, ruling him out of tomorrow’s second qualifier against Trinidad and Tobago in Centurion.

He was a revelation for Yorkshire during their successful t20 domestic campaign, scoring four fifties in a haul of 390 runs from 11 innings at an average of 48.75. Only Worcestershire’s Phil Hughes scored more runs.

“My excitement to go back to Yorkshire is all there,” he said.

“Over the next couple of weeks we’ll look to finalise that. We have had a few conversations between Yorkshire and myself. Hopefully I do come back.

“I would love to be available for everything, but that’s up to them to decide whether that’s possible. At this stage of my career, I just want to play as much cricket as I can. If I can play all formats for Yorkshire, I would enjoy that.”

With director of cricket Martyn Moxon admitting earlier on this trip that Yorkshire are unlikely to sign a main overseas player for 2013, that prospect looks unlikely.

But it would now be a major surprise if Miller was not back in a Yorkshire shirt for t20 next season.

It is a little over six weeks since he played that stunning innings of 72 off 46 balls in the FLt20 final defeat against Hampshire at Cardiff, which almost snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

Earlier in the day, he had also hit 47 off 35 balls in the semi-final win over Sussex at the same venue.

“Getting back to South Africa, sitting down and thinking about what actually took place makes it very, very special. I really want to remember that moment for the rest of my life,” he continued.

“I was just glad to contribute. I’m glad it came off on the night, but it was a lot better than I thought.”

A knock of similar stature today will surely give Yorkshire a great chance of beating the Sri Lankans.

“I don’t know too much about them, but we’ve had a bit of video analysis going on and having a look at their bowlers and batters,” he said. “I was saying to Jason Gillespie shortly after I arrived that all the boys are buzzing. I can sense the excitement around the squad, the sort of nervous energy.

“Hopefully, we can pull through these two games and get into the main competition so I can come back and play later on.”

Should Yorkshire qualify through to Group ‘B’, Miller will be available for the last of their four games against Chennai Super Kings on October 22. He would then be available for a possible semi-final and final.

“The opportunities are all there for us,” he said.