“He had no shoes”: Dale Steyn shares a hilarious tale from David Miller’s T20I debut

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Cricket isn’t just about towering sixes, toe-crushing yorkers, or nail-biting finishes. Beyond the statistics and records lies a world of unforgettable moments—some intense, some heartwarming, and others simply hilarious. The game has often delivered memories that fans cherish for a lifetime, and sometimes, the players themselves become storytellers, sharing behind-the-scenes anecdotes that never make it to the post-match presentation.

Legendary South African pacer Dale Steyn recently revisited one such amusing memory from the 2010 tour of the West Indies. While scrolling through old highlights, Steyn was reminded of the tour which he called “probably one of my favorite tours I ever had.” But what triggered laughter was a particular incident involving now-T20 maestro David Miller—his international T20 debut came with an unexpected wardrobe malfunction. Sharing the tale on social media, Steyn revealed that Miller had to borrow Morne Morkel’s shoes on debut.

“Watching highlights from our 2010 tour of the West Indies. That time, that team, the opposition, the country, probably one of my favorite tours I ever had. David Miller also made his debut, funny story, he had no shoes and used Morne Morkels, they look so HUGE on him,” Steyn wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Watching highlights from our 2010 tour of the West Indies.That time, that team, the opposition, the country, probably one of my favorite tours I ever had. David Miller also made his debut, funny story, he had no shoes and used Morne Morkels, they look so HUGE on him 😂

— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) May 15, 2025

When a curious fan asked how a professional player could end up without proper kit, Steyn explained the real reason behind the funny memory that has stayed with the Proteas legend.

“He came off a SA A tour from Bangladesh straight to the West Indies, his shoes were all destroyed from that tour and his new kit hadn’t arrived in time. Makes for great memories, and a good laugh. And what an amazing player he became, all from those big boots!,” explained Steyn.

He came off a SA A tour from Bangladesh straight to the West Indies, his shoes were all destroyed from that tour and his new kit hadn’t arrived in time. Makes for great memories, and a good laugh. And what an amazing player he became, all from those big boots! Haha

— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) May 15, 2025

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Currently one of the most explosive T20 batters in world cricket, Miller’s journey had humble beginnings. On May 20, 2010, in his T20I debut against the West Indies in Antigua, Miller walked in with borrowed boots—but his confidence didn’t seem borrowed at all. He played a handy knock, scoring 33 off 26 balls before getting run out. His intent and strokeplay hinted at the finishing prowess he would later be famous for.

South Africa narrowly clinched that game by just one run, with Steyn delivering a tight spell of 1/18 and Morkel claiming 2/15. Even in a high-pressure game, the young Miller managed to leave a mark—while slipping into boots a few sizes too big.

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