Geoff Miller
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey Miller is an English
former cricket
er, who played in thirty four Tests
and twenty five ODIs for England from 1976 to 1984. He played for Derbyshire
from 1973 to 1986, captaining
the side from 1978 to 1981, and returned in 1990 after playing for Essex
between 1987 and 1989.
The cricket writer, Colin Bateman, noted, "Geoff Miller concedes that he probably enjoyed cricket too much. He did not take it as seriously as some, And when it became a rigorous, grim-faced business, he was not sorry to bow out of an eight-year Test career that never reached the peaks many expected".
debut for Derbyshire in July 1973, in a match against Somerset
, when he scored a duck
in his only innings. He was the Cricket Writers' Club Young Cricketer of the Year in 1976. Miller became Derbyshire captain in 1978, and in the 1981 season
, led the Derbyshire side to victory in the National Westminster Bank Trophy. He ended the 1982 Boxing Day Test
in Australia by catching Jeff Thomson
- England winning by a mere three runs. Miller went to Essex in 1987, but returned to Derbyshire for his last first-class season in 1990. In 1991, he played Minor counties cricket for Cheshire
.
Miller was a correct right-handed batsman and a reliable right-arm off-break bowler, taking 888 wickets in 283 first-class matches (1973–1990) and 278 wickets in 334 List A matches (1973–1994). He took 60 wickets in thirty four Tests and 25 wickets in twenty five ODIs for England.
Miller was elected as National Selector by the England and Wales Cricket Board
in January 2008. He led a panel, which then contained Ashley Giles
, Peter Moores
and James Whitaker
. He previously served on the panel of his predecessor David Graveney
since 2000.
Miller also ran Moss & Miller, a sporting goods emporium in Chesterfield, with Chesterfield F.C.
footballer Ernie Moss
, for a number of years. He also became a sought after after dinner speaker
.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
former cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er, who played in thirty four Tests
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
and twenty five ODIs for England from 1976 to 1984. He played for Derbyshire
Derbyshire County Cricket Club
Derbyshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the England and Wales domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Derbyshire...
from 1973 to 1986, captaining
Captain (cricket)
The captain of a cricket team often referred to as the skipper is the appointed leader, having several additional roles and responsibilities over and above those of a regular player...
the side from 1978 to 1981, and returned in 1990 after playing for Essex
Essex County Cricket Club
Essex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Essex. Its limited overs team is called the Essex Eagles, their team colours this season are blue.The club plays most of its home games...
between 1987 and 1989.
The cricket writer, Colin Bateman, noted, "Geoff Miller concedes that he probably enjoyed cricket too much. He did not take it as seriously as some, And when it became a rigorous, grim-faced business, he was not sorry to bow out of an eight-year Test career that never reached the peaks many expected".
Life and career
Miller was educated at Chesterfield Grammar School. From 1971 he was playing in Derbyshire Second XI and in young cricketer's teams. He made his first-classFirst-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
debut for Derbyshire in July 1973, in a match against Somerset
Somerset County Cricket Club
Somerset County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Somerset...
, when he scored a duck
Duck (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, a duck refers to a batsman's dismissal for a score of zero.-Origin of the term:The term is a shortening of the term "duck's egg", the latter being used long before Test cricket began...
in his only innings. He was the Cricket Writers' Club Young Cricketer of the Year in 1976. Miller became Derbyshire captain in 1978, and in the 1981 season
Derbyshire County Cricket Club in 1981
Derbyshire Country Cricket Club in 1981 represents cricket season when the English club Derbyshire had been playing for one hundred and ten years. It was the season when they won National Westminster Bank Trophy. They won ten matches in the John Player League to finish fourth...
, led the Derbyshire side to victory in the National Westminster Bank Trophy. He ended the 1982 Boxing Day Test
Boxing Day Test
The Boxing Day Test match is a cricket Test match hosted in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia involving the Australian cricket team and an opposing national team which is touring Australia that summer. It begins annually on Boxing Day and is played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground...
in Australia by catching Jeff Thomson
Jeff Thomson
Jeffrey Robert Thomson is a former Australian cricketer. Known as "Thommo", he was one of the fastest bowlers ever to play Test cricket and was the opening partner of fellow fast bowler Dennis Lillee; their combination was one of the most fearsome in Test cricket history...
- England winning by a mere three runs. Miller went to Essex in 1987, but returned to Derbyshire for his last first-class season in 1990. In 1991, he played Minor counties cricket for Cheshire
Cheshire County Cricket Club
Cheshire County Cricket Club is one of the county clubs which make up the Minor Counties in the English domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Cheshire and playing in the Minor Counties Championship and the MCCA Knockout Trophy...
.
Miller was a correct right-handed batsman and a reliable right-arm off-break bowler, taking 888 wickets in 283 first-class matches (1973–1990) and 278 wickets in 334 List A matches (1973–1994). He took 60 wickets in thirty four Tests and 25 wickets in twenty five ODIs for England.
Miller was elected as National Selector by the England and Wales Cricket Board
England and Wales Cricket Board
The England and Wales Cricket Board is the governing body of cricket in England and Wales. It was created on 1 January 1997 combining the roles of the Test and County Cricket Board, the National Cricket Association and the Cricket Council...
in January 2008. He led a panel, which then contained Ashley Giles
Ashley Giles
Ashley Fraser Giles MBE is a retired English cricketer. Giles played the entirety of his 14-year first-class career at Warwickshire County Cricket Club where he is now employed as Director of Cricket...
, Peter Moores
Peter Moores (cricketer)
Peter Moores is a former English county cricketer. He played as a wicketkeeper for Worcestershire and Sussex He became the coach of Lancashire County Cricket Club, on 11 February 2009....
and James Whitaker
James Whitaker (cricketer)
John James Whitaker is an English former cricketer, who played in one Test and two ODIs for England in 1986.-Life and career:...
. He previously served on the panel of his predecessor David Graveney
David Graveney
David Anthony Graveney OBE is a leading figure in English cricket and former chairman of the England Test selectors, a post he held from 1997 until 2008. Graveney attended Millfield School in Somerset....
since 2000.
Miller also ran Moss & Miller, a sporting goods emporium in Chesterfield, with Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
footballer Ernie Moss
Ernie Moss
Ernest "Ernie" Moss is an English former footballer. He is most associated with his home town club, Chesterfield, where in three separate spells spanning nearly twenty years he made 539 appearances, scoring a club record 192 goals. He was later voted PFA Fans' Favourites and cult hero number one...
, for a number of years. He also became a sought after after dinner speaker
Public speaking
Public speaking is the process of speaking to a group of people in a structured, deliberate manner intended to inform, influence, or entertain the listeners...
.