Keith Miller with the Australian cricket team in England in 1953
Encyclopedia
Keith Miller
was part of the Australian cricket team that toured England in 1953
. While Miller was personally successful on tour, Australia lost the Ashes
series to England, one Test to nil.
, travelling to England aboard the Orcades after leaving Australia in late March. They almost did so with their three main bowlers marooned in an Italian jail. During a stopover at Naples
on the sea voyage to England, Miller had taken Lindwall and Johnston to watch a rehearsal of La Boheme
at the Teatro di San Carlo
. The trio ignored the doorkeeper's attempt to stop them attending what was meant to be a private rehearsal, and proceeded inside to the auditorium. When they attempted to return to the boat, they found that the doorkeeper had locked them inside and called the police. Lindwall broke the door's lock and the pacemen ran back to the dock just before the gangplank was being pulled away. The Australians arrived at Southampton
after four weeks at sea. He was embroiled in further controversy when Bumper, a book that he had produced with his ghost-writer Dick Whitington, criticised his captain Hassett as being too cautious. The book commented that "Hassett deals, or fails to deal with things as they occur". Early on the tour, the Evening News
ran the headline "Keith Miller Criticises his Captain". The poker-faced Hassett kept his cool at a welcome reception hosted by the Journalists' Association, introducing Miller to the guests by saying "There is Keith Miller, whom you all know well. I hear he has written a book. I know nothing about it."
The burden on Miller and Lindwall increased when Johnston broke down in the non-first-class tour game against East Molesey and then returned with diminished powers. Miller scored 33 and bowled five unsuccessful overs as Australia won the tour opener. Johnston had taken the most wickets on the 1948 tour, allowing Miller and Lindwall to focus on short, sharp bursts with the new ball against England's leading batsmen. Miller had to bowl 28 overs for 56 runs without taking a wicket in the tour's opening first-class fixture against Worcestershire
, who made 7/333 declared
. He then came to the crease with Australia struggling at 2/28 and proceeded to score an unbeaten 220 in just over six hours as Australia reached 7/542, whereupon the match ended in a draw. He featured in a 198-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Graeme Hole
, who made 112, taking Australia from the precarious position of 3/28 to 4/226. This was followed by a 171-run partnership for the seventh wicket with fellow all-rounder
Ron Archer
, who made 108. He was run out for 42 against Leicestershire
, featuring in a partnership of 98 with Neil Harvey
, who made 202 not out as the Australians amassed 443. As the matches against Worcestershire and Leicestershire were played consecutively without a rest day between fixtures, Miller was given a light workload with the ball after his long innings in the former match. He was required only to bowl five wicketless overs in the second innings after the Australians enforced the follow on and completed an innings victory.
He then scored 159 not out as Australia amassed 6/453 declared before taking 1/21 in a win by an innings and 194 runs against Yorkshire
. This time the innings was patient, taking 330 minutes, after being dropped in the slips when he was 20. The spectators were unfamiliar with this style of batting from Miller and sardonically slow-handclapped him. He was part of a middle-order fightback for Australia, putting on stands of 143 and 152 with Jim de Courcy
(53) and Richie Benaud
(97) for the fifth and sixth wickets respectively, after Hassett's men had fallen to 4/149.
He also took his first wicket of the tour in the second innings, ending with 1/21 from 14 overs. After batting for much of the first and second day, Miller was rested from his bowling duties during the first innings and was not asked to roll his arm over until the third day, once the other Australian bowlers had done most of the damage after asking the hosts to follow on. At this point, Miller had scored 421 runs in the first seven days of May without being dismissed by a bowler, and the media began to speculate that he could score 1000 runs in one month, something that had been done on a tour only by Bradman. This was hampered when he was rested from the match against Surrey
at The Oval
after playing in three consecutive first-class matches. Australia easily won the match by an innings.
then interfered with his quest. Wanting to attend an afternoon race meeting, he convinced his captain Hassett to allow him to open the batting in the morning against Cambridge University
after the Australians won the toss. Not intending to play a long innings, he attacked the bowling and was out for 20, before heading for the track. Miller had received gambling advice from a jockey friend. However, all six of the horses that Miller backed went on to lose and Miller and ran out of money. He went to place a bet on a seventh horse, only to find that he was no money left. The horse went on to win. Miller expected Australia to bat for the entire day, only to return late in the day to see Hassett leading the team onto the field for Cambridge's innings, the tourists having been bowled out for 383. Miller was not required to bowl in the first innings, before taking 2/27 in the second innings, including the wicket of top-scorer Raman Subba Row
as Australia won by an innings and 110 runs.
This was followed by a match against the Marylebone Cricket Club
at Lord's, which fielded a virtual England Test team. Seven of the MCC's representatives went on to play in the First Test, while three others had already had Test experience, including former national captain Freddie Brown, so it was an opportunity to gain a psychological advantage in what amounted to a rehearsal for the Ashes. The first day's play was entire washed out by rain, leaving a bowler-friendly surface when the match started on the following morning. Miller bowled seven wicketless overs, conceding only ten runs, before Doug Ring
took over and claimed five wickets as the MCC were dismissed for 80. Miller was then bowled by Trevor Bailey
for a duck as the tourists slumped to 4/26 before recovering to take a 99-run first innings lead. In the second innings, Miller took the wickets of English Test opening batsmen, Reg Simpson
and David Sheppard
, trapping his victims leg before wicket
and bowled respectively, to leave the hosts at 2/15 just before stumps on the second day. He later removed Fred Brown and Godfrey Evans
in the middle-order, to end with 4/47, as the MCC made 196. The last two wickets came from deliberately unconventional balls, a full toss
and a round arm delivery
that were designed to surprise his opponents. This left Australia with a target of 98 for victory, but they had only reached 2/13 when time ran out. Miller was not required to bat.
Miller then opened the bowling and took 2/8 as Oxford University
were dismissed for 70 after electing to bat. He then made 19, before taking 3/19 in a victory by an innings and 86 runs. However, he felt that umpire Frank Chester
had taken a hostile attitude towards the Australians, a feeling that would persist through the summer. Miller then missed the innings victory against Minor Counties
, instead spending the weekend with Princess Margaret.
Miller returned for the match against Lancashire
, scoring 20 and taking 1/27, his only victim in a rain-affected draw being Cyril Washbrook
. The entire first day's play was lost and the match did not reach the second innings. A similar result occurred in the next match against Nottinghamshire
, with Miller scoring 48 after taking 0/32 in the hosts' innings. The match was cut short by one day for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Miller then scored six as Australia collapsed from 1/166 to be all out for 325 against Sussex
. Miller then opened the bowling in the hosts' innings and bowled tidily, delivering five maidens in his six overs, and conceding only two runs, before he pulled rib muscles, meaning he could not bowl in the First Test at Trent Bridge. he was not required to bat or bowl in the second innings as Australia declared at 1/259 and the hosts hung on for a draw with one wicket intact. Miller was rested for the final tour match before the Tests, which was against Hampshire
. The tourists won by 158 runs.
In the first innings of the First Test at Trent Bridge
, Miller came to the crease on the first day with the score at 3/128 after Australia won the toss and elected to bat, facing wet conditions after the loss of Arthur Morris
and Harvey in quick succession. He scored 55 in a partnership of 109 for the fourth wicket with Hassett. Both players batted patiently, scoring at around two runs per over. Miller was then dismissed by Johnny Wardle
while going for a big hit to leave the score at 4/237 early on the second morning. It was a subdued innings from the all-rounder, who had hit only three fours in 184 balls faced. His dismissal triggered a sharp collapse as all the incoming batsmen were unable to pass four and Australia lost a total of 7/12 (including 6/5) to be all out for 249. Miller then looked on as England were bowled out for 144. He scored five in the second innings, caught off a deliberate full toss by Bedser, as Australia collapsed and lost 7/59 to be dismissed for 123, leaving England a victory target of 229. The hosts reached 1/120 before the match ended in a rain-affected draw.
Miller was rested for the match against Derbyshire
immediately after the First Test, a rain-affected match that ended in a draw. Australia then travelled to Bramall Lane
in Sheffield
under the captaincy of Miller. Captain Hassett and his deputy Arthur Morris
were rested from the match and stayed in London with the team manager. Miller bowled only one over after Yorkshire won the toss due to his sore rib. Nevertheless, after the first day's play, he organised a party for his young team that lasted until the next afternoon—the rest day. Miller and Lindwall, the two most senior players present, were the last to leave. They woke up with a hangover on the following day just minutes before play was to start in front of a packed stadium of 30,000. With no transport available, a journalist hired a hearse
from a nearby funeral home
to transport the pacemen to the ground. They arrived just in time and Yorkshire went on to finish at 377, Lindwall taking four of the last five wickets despite his hangover. When it was Australia's turn to bat, Miller rearranged his batting order to allow him more time to recover. As a result, with regular opener Colin McDonald absent hurt, Ian Craig
and wicket-keeper Don Tallon
opened the batting, but both were dismissed cheaply, for 19 and a duck respectively. However, Graeme Hole
(71) and Harvey (69) consolidated the innings, and Miller came in at 3/128 and was the last man to be dismissed, having scored 86 from 195 minutes despite his hangover. He had been dropped five times during his innings, which helped Australia to avoid the follow on and end at 323. Having taken a 54-run first innings lead, Yorkshire reached 3/220 in their second innings and the match was drawn. Miller injury had improved and he took 0/40 in the second innings from 15 overs.
The Test series moved to Lord's, the home of cricket, for the second match. Miller resumed bowling a full workload, sending down 42 overs and taking a total of 1/74. Batting at No. 4, he managed 25 in the first innings, including a six, before being bowled by Wardle as Australia batted first and lost 9/156 to end on 346. England replied and Miller dismissed Trevor Bailey
, who had resisted stubbornly in scoring only 2 runs from 34 balls, to take 1/57 from 25 overs as the hosts compiled 372. Promoted to number three in the second innings, he came to the wicket at 1/3 after the fall of Hassett to Brian Statham
before batting patiently to reach stumps unbeaten on 58. Arthur Morris
was unbeaten on 35 and Australia was at 1/96. The next morning, the pair proceeded steadily to 168, when Morris fell for 89. Miller then registered his first Test century on English soil, before being dismissed for 109 with the score at 4/235. It was the second time in the match that he had been bowled by Johnny Wardle
. Miller struck 14 fours and one six during his stay of 271 balls, a relatively patient innings by his standards. Australia lost wickets steadily thereafter and were bowled out for 368. Chasing 343 for victory, England held on for a draw with three wickets in hand. Their defensive approach after stumbling to 4/73 meant that Miller conceded only 17 runs from his 17 overs in the second innings. the all-rounder was not given first use of the ball after his long innings and only bowled later as the tourists attempted to wear down the English middle-order.
Australia then played Gloucestershire
. Miller took 1/13 from seven overs, dismissing former Test batsman George Emmett as the hosts were bowled out for 137. He then made 37 in Australia's total of 9/402 declared before taking 3/34 in the second innings, all of them middle-order wickets including the home captain Jack Crapp
as the tourists took a nine-wicket victory. He was then rested from the match against Northamptonshire
, which Australia won.
More than half of the Third Test at Old Trafford was washed out, with only seven sessions of play, resulting in another draw. It was timely for Australia, as they led by only 77 in the second innings with two wickets in hand after collapsing to be 8/35. Miller made 17 in the first innings before being bowled by Bedser, leaving Australia at 3/48. Australia then recovered with a century stand by Hole and Harvey, eventually ending at 318. Miller then took 1/38 claiming the wicket of Tom Graveney
while bowling fast off breaks in England's first innings of 276. He then scored six with the bat in the second innings, before being stumped from the off spin
of Jim Laker
to leave Australia at 3/18, before his fellow batsmen continued to fall, leaving the tourists at 8/35.
Miller scored only five in a non-first-class match against Netherlands, and did not bowl as Australia won the single-innings match by 127 runs. Australia then played Middlesex
at Lord's, where Miller scored a hard-hitting 71 after a night of heavy drinking, later claiming that he decided to attack and entertain because of the presence of Queen Elizabeth II. The Daily Express
opined that "It was right royal entertainment". He earlier took 1/13 in the first innings, removing Jack Robertson
and bowled four wicketless overs in the second innings as the hosts hung on for a draw, trailing by 154 runs with six wickets in hand.
Australia elected to field on a wet wicket in the Fourth Test at Headingley. Miller dismissed Edrich and Graveney and ended with 2/39 from 28 overs as England were bowled out for 167. However, it was his relationship with umpire Chester that garnered more attention. After a series of declined appeals and a barrage of short-pitched bowling at the English batsmen, Miller broke the stumps and appealed for a run out with the batsman more than a metre out of his ground, but Chester said not out. Angered, Miller appealed four more times for the wicket. Miller made only five in the first innings, to leave Australia at 3/84. However, Australia recovered to reach 266 and take a 99-run lead. In the second innings, Miller and Lindwall launched a short-pitched barrage and Miller dismissed Watson and Reg Simpson
in consecutive balls to be 5/171. England were 5/177 a stumps on day four, leading by 78. The pacemen were booed from the field. Miller reacted to one heckler by challenging him to a fight, which was declined. The next day, Miller dismissed Godfrey Evans
early to leave England at 6/182, just 83 runs ahead with four wickets in hand, before Trevor Bailey
began his resistance. Miller and Bailey were rivals; both were all rounders, but while Miller was attacking, Bailey was stubborn and defensive. Bailey attempted to save the match by time-wasting and causing stoppages by appealing against the light, holding discussions with his partner and withdrawing when the bowler was running in. At one point, Miller lost his cool and aimed a beamer
—in an illegal delivery— straight at Bailey's head, further angering the crowd. Miller later took the wicket of Tony Lock
to end with 4/63 from a long spell of 47 overs and confronted another heckler on his way back to the dressing room, this time an elderly man. England held on for another draw after Bailey deliberately bowled wide down the leg side to prevent the Australian batsmen from reaching the target and used an uncharacteristically long run-up to slow down the proceedings. The teams would enter the Fifth Test at The Oval tied 0–0.
Miller had a quiet match against Surrey
, scoring only one and bowling two wicketless overs for two runs in a rain-affected match that did not reach the second innings. He was rested for the match against Glamorgan
before returning against Warwickshire
. The home side batted first and reached 143 without loss before Miller took two quick wickets without further addition to the score. He returned to take eighth wicket, prompting a declaration. He ended with 3/48 and made a duck as Australia conceded a first innings lead of 89 runs. Miller then took 2/34, taking the only wickets to fall to a bowler, as Warwickshire declared at 3/76, before falling to Tom Dollery
for 10 as the tourists stumbled to 5/53 from 58 overs when time ran out. He then scored 30 and 21 and took match figures of 4/68 as Australia defeated Lancashire by seven wickets. Miller was rested for the match against Essex
, Australia's last before the deciding Test at The Oval
.
Miller's last Test at The Oval
was his least productive; he scored one in the first innings before Bailey trapped him leg before wicket as Australia were bowled out for 275. Miller then took 1/65 with his off breaks as England took a 31-run lead. In the second innings, Miller was dismissed without scoring, caught by Fred Trueman
at short leg from Laker's off spin. It was part of a collapse from 1/59 to 5/61, with all the wickets falling to Laker and Lock on their Surrey home ground. Australia were bowled out for 162, leaving England 132 to win. England won the match by eight wickets and regained the Ashes. Miller claimed the wicket of Peter May
to leave England at 2/88 but it was not enough to thwart the home team.
Miller's returns were below his Test career standards, with 223 runs at 24.77 and 10 wickets at 30.30. He took two catches in the Tests.
The final Test was followed by eight more matches, six of which were first-class. Miller missed the first of these, which was against Somerset
. He returned in the following match against the Gentlemen of England at Lord's, not bowling in the first innings and scoring 14 in the first innings, again trapped leg before wicket by Bailey. He then took 2/59 and scored 67 in the second innings, putting on a century partnership with Morris to seal an eight-wicket win. He followed this with 68 and 1/17 in an innings win over Kent
. Miller did little against the South of England, scoring only nine before falling to Doug Wright
and taking match figures of 1/38, but Australia nevertheless completed victory by an innings and 163 runs.
Miller ended his tour against the Combined Services at Kingston
. Miller came to the crease at 1/2 after Morris was bowled for a duck. He counterattacked and reached his century before lunch, which he washed down with champagne. He then proceeded to 262 not out with 34 boundaries. This included a 377-run fourth-wicket stand by Jim de Courcy
in only 205 minutes, followed by an unbeaten 126-run partnership with Craig. He particularly targeted Fred Trueman
's bowling as Australia declared at 4/592. Trueman ended with 0/95 from 14 overs. He then took the first two wickets of the innings, both bowled, to leave the hosts at 2/28. He then returned to bowl Trueman and end with 3/17 as the Combined Services were bowled out for 161 and forced to follow on. He took another wicket, again castling the batsman, in the second innings as Australia easily won by an innings and 261 runs.
Miller was rested for the last three matches of the tour. These consisted of a match against TN Pearce's XI, and two matches against Scotland that were not accorded first-class status.
.
Keith Miller
Keith Ross Miller MBE was an Australian Test cricketer and a Royal Australian Air Force pilot during World War II. Miller is widely regarded as Australia's greatest ever all-rounder. Because of his ability, irreverent manner and good looks he was a crowd favourite...
was part of the Australian cricket team that toured England in 1953
Australian cricket team in England in 1953
The Australian cricket team toured England in the 1953 season to play a five-match Test series against England for The Ashes.England won the final Test to take the series 1-0 after the first four Tests were all drawn. England therefore recovered the Ashes for the first time since losing them in...
. While Miller was personally successful on tour, Australia lost the Ashes
The Ashes
The Ashes is a Test cricket series played between England and Australia. It is one of the most celebrated rivalries in international cricket and dates back to 1882. It is currently played biennially, alternately in the United Kingdom and Australia. Cricket being a summer sport, and the venues...
series to England, one Test to nil.
Early matches
Australia proceeded to the 1953 Ashes tourAustralian cricket team in England in 1953
The Australian cricket team toured England in the 1953 season to play a five-match Test series against England for The Ashes.England won the final Test to take the series 1-0 after the first four Tests were all drawn. England therefore recovered the Ashes for the first time since losing them in...
, travelling to England aboard the Orcades after leaving Australia in late March. They almost did so with their three main bowlers marooned in an Italian jail. During a stopover at Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
on the sea voyage to England, Miller had taken Lindwall and Johnston to watch a rehearsal of La Boheme
La bohème
La bohème is an opera in four acts,Puccini called the divisions quadro, a tableau or "image", rather than atto . by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa, based on Scènes de la vie de bohème by Henri Murger...
at the Teatro di San Carlo
Teatro di San Carlo
The Real Teatro di San Carlo is an opera house in Naples, Italy. It is the oldest continuously active such venue in Europe.Founded by the Bourbon Charles VII of Naples of the Spanish branch of the dynasty, the theatre was inaugurated on 4 November 1737 — the king's name day — with a performance...
. The trio ignored the doorkeeper's attempt to stop them attending what was meant to be a private rehearsal, and proceeded inside to the auditorium. When they attempted to return to the boat, they found that the doorkeeper had locked them inside and called the police. Lindwall broke the door's lock and the pacemen ran back to the dock just before the gangplank was being pulled away. The Australians arrived at Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
after four weeks at sea. He was embroiled in further controversy when Bumper, a book that he had produced with his ghost-writer Dick Whitington, criticised his captain Hassett as being too cautious. The book commented that "Hassett deals, or fails to deal with things as they occur". Early on the tour, the Evening News
Evening News
Evening News may refer to:In television news:*CBS Evening News, an American news broadcast*ITV Evening News, a UK news broadcast*JNN Evening News, a Japanese news broadcastIn newspapers:...
ran the headline "Keith Miller Criticises his Captain". The poker-faced Hassett kept his cool at a welcome reception hosted by the Journalists' Association, introducing Miller to the guests by saying "There is Keith Miller, whom you all know well. I hear he has written a book. I know nothing about it."
The burden on Miller and Lindwall increased when Johnston broke down in the non-first-class tour game against East Molesey and then returned with diminished powers. Miller scored 33 and bowled five unsuccessful overs as Australia won the tour opener. Johnston had taken the most wickets on the 1948 tour, allowing Miller and Lindwall to focus on short, sharp bursts with the new ball against England's leading batsmen. Miller had to bowl 28 overs for 56 runs without taking a wicket in the tour's opening first-class fixture against Worcestershire
Worcestershire County Cricket Club
Worcestershire 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 Worcestershire...
, who made 7/333 declared
Declaration and forfeiture
In the sport of cricket a declaration occurs when a captain declares his team's innings closed and a forfeiture is when a captain chooses to forfeit an innings. Declaration and forfeiture are covered in Law 14 of the Laws of cricket...
. He then came to the crease with Australia struggling at 2/28 and proceeded to score an unbeaten 220 in just over six hours as Australia reached 7/542, whereupon the match ended in a draw. He featured in a 198-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Graeme Hole
Graeme Hole
Graeme Blake Hole was an Australian cricketer....
, who made 112, taking Australia from the precarious position of 3/28 to 4/226. This was followed by a 171-run partnership for the seventh wicket with fellow all-rounder
All-rounder
An all-rounder is a cricketer who regularly performs well at both batting and bowling. Although all bowlers must bat and quite a few batsmen do bowl occasionally, most players are skilled in only one of the two disciplines and are considered specialists...
Ron Archer
Ron Archer
This article is about the cricket player. For Ron Archer see Ted WhiteRonald Graham Archer was an Australian Test cricketer who was born in Highgate Hill, Queensland...
, who made 108. He was run out for 42 against Leicestershire
Leicestershire County Cricket Club
Leicestershire 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 Leicestershire. It has also been representative of the county of Rutland....
, featuring in a partnership of 98 with Neil Harvey
Neil Harvey
Robert Neil Harvey MBE is a former Australian cricketer who represented the Australian cricket team between 1948 and 1963, playing in 79 Test matches. He was the vice-captain of the team from 1957 until his retirement...
, who made 202 not out as the Australians amassed 443. As the matches against Worcestershire and Leicestershire were played consecutively without a rest day between fixtures, Miller was given a light workload with the ball after his long innings in the former match. He was required only to bowl five wicketless overs in the second innings after the Australians enforced the follow on and completed an innings victory.
He then scored 159 not out as Australia amassed 6/453 declared before taking 1/21 in a win by an innings and 194 runs against Yorkshire
Yorkshire County Cricket Club
Yorkshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Yorkshire as one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure....
. This time the innings was patient, taking 330 minutes, after being dropped in the slips when he was 20. The spectators were unfamiliar with this style of batting from Miller and sardonically slow-handclapped him. He was part of a middle-order fightback for Australia, putting on stands of 143 and 152 with Jim de Courcy
Jim de Courcy
James Harry de Courcy was an Australian cricketer who played in three Tests on the 1953 Australian tour of England....
(53) and Richie Benaud
Richie Benaud
Richard "Richie" Benaud OBE is a former Australian cricketer who, since his retirement from international cricket in 1964, has become a highly regarded commentator on the game....
(97) for the fifth and sixth wickets respectively, after Hassett's men had fallen to 4/149.
He also took his first wicket of the tour in the second innings, ending with 1/21 from 14 overs. After batting for much of the first and second day, Miller was rested from his bowling duties during the first innings and was not asked to roll his arm over until the third day, once the other Australian bowlers had done most of the damage after asking the hosts to follow on. At this point, Miller had scored 421 runs in the first seven days of May without being dismissed by a bowler, and the media began to speculate that he could score 1000 runs in one month, something that had been done on a tour only by Bradman. This was hampered when he was rested from the match against Surrey
Surrey County Cricket Club
Surrey County Cricket Club is one of the 18 professional county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Surrey. Its limited overs team is called the Surrey Lions...
at The Oval
The Oval
The Kia Oval, still commonly referred to by its original name of The Oval, is an international cricket ground in Kennington, in the London Borough of Lambeth. In the past it was also sometimes called the Kennington Oval...
after playing in three consecutive first-class matches. Australia easily won the match by an innings.
Tests
Miller's love of horseracingThoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...
then interfered with his quest. Wanting to attend an afternoon race meeting, he convinced his captain Hassett to allow him to open the batting in the morning against Cambridge University
Cambridge University Cricket Club
Cambridge University Cricket Club is a first-class cricket team. It now plays all but one of its first-class cricket matches as part of the Cambridge University Centre of Cricketing Excellence , which includes Anglia Ruskin University...
after the Australians won the toss. Not intending to play a long innings, he attacked the bowling and was out for 20, before heading for the track. Miller had received gambling advice from a jockey friend. However, all six of the horses that Miller backed went on to lose and Miller and ran out of money. He went to place a bet on a seventh horse, only to find that he was no money left. The horse went on to win. Miller expected Australia to bat for the entire day, only to return late in the day to see Hassett leading the team onto the field for Cambridge's innings, the tourists having been bowled out for 383. Miller was not required to bowl in the first innings, before taking 2/27 in the second innings, including the wicket of top-scorer Raman Subba Row
Raman Subba Row
Raman Subba Row is an English former cricketer who played for England, Cambridge University, Surrey and Northamptonshire.-Life and career:...
as Australia won by an innings and 110 runs.
This was followed by a match against the Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
at Lord's, which fielded a virtual England Test team. Seven of the MCC's representatives went on to play in the First Test, while three others had already had Test experience, including former national captain Freddie Brown, so it was an opportunity to gain a psychological advantage in what amounted to a rehearsal for the Ashes. The first day's play was entire washed out by rain, leaving a bowler-friendly surface when the match started on the following morning. Miller bowled seven wicketless overs, conceding only ten runs, before Doug Ring
Doug Ring
Douglas Thomas Ring was an Australian cricketer who played for Victoria and Australia in 13 Tests from 1948 to 1953...
took over and claimed five wickets as the MCC were dismissed for 80. Miller was then bowled by Trevor Bailey
Trevor Bailey
Trevor Edward Bailey CBE was an England Test cricketer, cricket writer and broadcaster.An all-rounder, Bailey was known for his skilful but unspectacular batting...
for a duck as the tourists slumped to 4/26 before recovering to take a 99-run first innings lead. In the second innings, Miller took the wickets of English Test opening batsmen, Reg Simpson
Reg Simpson
Reginald Thomas Simpson is an English former cricketer, who played in twentry seven Tests from 1948 to 1955.-Life and career:...
and David Sheppard
David Sheppard
David Stuart Sheppard, Baron Sheppard of Liverpool was the high-profile Bishop of Liverpool in the Church of England who played cricket for Sussex and England in his youth...
, trapping his victims leg before wicket
Leg before wicket
In the sport of cricket, leg before wicket is one of the ways in which a batsman can be dismissed. An umpire will rule a batsman out LBW under a series of circumstances which primarily include the ball striking the batsman's body when it would otherwise have continued on to hit the batsman's...
and bowled respectively, to leave the hosts at 2/15 just before stumps on the second day. He later removed Fred Brown and Godfrey Evans
Godfrey Evans
Thomas Godfrey Evans CBE was an English cricketer who played for Kent and England.Described by Wisden as 'arguably the best wicket-keeper the game has ever seen', Evans collected 219 dismissals in 91 Test match appearances between 1946 and 1959 and a total of 1066 in all first-class matches...
in the middle-order, to end with 4/47, as the MCC made 196. The last two wickets came from deliberately unconventional balls, a full toss
Full toss
A full toss is a type of delivery in the sport of cricket. It describes any delivery that reaches the batsman without bouncing on the pitch first....
and a round arm delivery
Roundarm bowling
In cricket, roundarm bowling is a style that was introduced in the first quarter of the 19th century and had largely superseded underarm bowling by the 1830s. Using a roundarm action, the bowler has his arm extended at about 90 degrees from his body at the point where he releases the ball...
that were designed to surprise his opponents. This left Australia with a target of 98 for victory, but they had only reached 2/13 when time ran out. Miller was not required to bat.
Miller then opened the bowling and took 2/8 as Oxford University
Oxford University Cricket Club
Oxford University Cricket Club is a first-class cricket team, representing the University of Oxford. It plays its home games at the University Parks in Oxford, England...
were dismissed for 70 after electing to bat. He then made 19, before taking 3/19 in a victory by an innings and 86 runs. However, he felt that umpire Frank Chester
Frank Chester (umpire)
Frank Chester was an English first-class cricketer and notable international cricket umpire.Chester was an all-rounder, a left-handed middle-order batsman and a slow left-arm bowler, who played 55 first-class matches for county side Worcestershire as a teenager from 1912 to 1914...
had taken a hostile attitude towards the Australians, a feeling that would persist through the summer. Miller then missed the innings victory against Minor Counties
Minor counties of English cricket
The Minor Counties are the cricketing counties of England and Wales that are not afforded first-class status. The game is administered by the Minor Counties Cricket Association which comes under the England and Wales Cricket Board...
, instead spending the weekend with Princess Margaret.
Miller returned for the match against Lancashire
Lancashire County Cricket Club
Lancashire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Lancashire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1864 as a successor to Manchester Cricket Club and has played at Old Trafford since then...
, scoring 20 and taking 1/27, his only victim in a rain-affected draw being Cyril Washbrook
Cyril Washbrook
Cyril Washbrook was an English cricketer, who played for Lancashire and England. He had a long career, split by World War II, and ending when he was aged 44. Washbrook, who is most famous for opening the batting for England with Len Hutton, which he did fifty one times, played a total of 592...
. The entire first day's play was lost and the match did not reach the second innings. A similar result occurred in the next match against Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club
Nottinghamshire 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 Nottinghamshire, and the current county champions. Its limited overs team is called the Nottinghamshire Outlaws...
, with Miller scoring 48 after taking 0/32 in the hosts' innings. The match was cut short by one day for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Miller then scored six as Australia collapsed from 1/166 to be all out for 325 against Sussex
Sussex County Cricket Club
Sussex County Cricket Club is the oldest of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Sussex. The club was founded as a successor to Brighton Cricket Club which was a representative of the county of Sussex as a...
. Miller then opened the bowling in the hosts' innings and bowled tidily, delivering five maidens in his six overs, and conceding only two runs, before he pulled rib muscles, meaning he could not bowl in the First Test at Trent Bridge. he was not required to bat or bowl in the second innings as Australia declared at 1/259 and the hosts hung on for a draw with one wicket intact. Miller was rested for the final tour match before the Tests, which was against Hampshire
Hampshire County Cricket Club
Hampshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Hampshire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1863 as a successor to the Hampshire county cricket teams and has played at the Antelope Ground from then until 1885, before moving to the County Ground where it...
. The tourists won by 158 runs.
In the first innings of the First Test at Trent Bridge
Trent Bridge
Trent Bridge is a Test, One-day international and County cricket ground located in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, England and is also the headquarters of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. As well as International cricket and Nottinghamshire's home games, the ground has hosted the Finals Day of...
, Miller came to the crease on the first day with the score at 3/128 after Australia won the toss and elected to bat, facing wet conditions after the loss of Arthur Morris
Arthur Morris
Arthur Robert Morris MBE is a former Australian cricketer who played 46 Test matches between 1946 and 1955. An opener, Morris is regarded as one of Australia's greatest left-handed batsmen. He is best known for his key role in Don Bradman's Invincibles side, which made an undefeated tour of...
and Harvey in quick succession. He scored 55 in a partnership of 109 for the fourth wicket with Hassett. Both players batted patiently, scoring at around two runs per over. Miller was then dismissed by Johnny Wardle
Johnny Wardle
Johnny Wardle was an English spin bowler of post-war cricket. His Test bowling average of 20.39, is the lowest in Test cricket by any recognised spin bowler, since World War I....
while going for a big hit to leave the score at 4/237 early on the second morning. It was a subdued innings from the all-rounder, who had hit only three fours in 184 balls faced. His dismissal triggered a sharp collapse as all the incoming batsmen were unable to pass four and Australia lost a total of 7/12 (including 6/5) to be all out for 249. Miller then looked on as England were bowled out for 144. He scored five in the second innings, caught off a deliberate full toss by Bedser, as Australia collapsed and lost 7/59 to be dismissed for 123, leaving England a victory target of 229. The hosts reached 1/120 before the match ended in a rain-affected draw.
Miller was rested for the match against 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...
immediately after the First Test, a rain-affected match that ended in a draw. Australia then travelled to Bramall Lane
Bramall Lane
-Cricket at the Lane:Bramall Lane opened as a cricket ground in 1855, having been leased by Michael Ellison from the Duke of Norfolk at an annual rent of £70. The site was then away from the town's industrial area, and relatively free from smoke. It was built to host the matches of local cricket...
in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
under the captaincy of Miller. Captain Hassett and his deputy Arthur Morris
Arthur Morris
Arthur Robert Morris MBE is a former Australian cricketer who played 46 Test matches between 1946 and 1955. An opener, Morris is regarded as one of Australia's greatest left-handed batsmen. He is best known for his key role in Don Bradman's Invincibles side, which made an undefeated tour of...
were rested from the match and stayed in London with the team manager. Miller bowled only one over after Yorkshire won the toss due to his sore rib. Nevertheless, after the first day's play, he organised a party for his young team that lasted until the next afternoon—the rest day. Miller and Lindwall, the two most senior players present, were the last to leave. They woke up with a hangover on the following day just minutes before play was to start in front of a packed stadium of 30,000. With no transport available, a journalist hired a hearse
Hearse
A hearse is a funerary vehicle used to carry a coffin from a church or funeral home to a cemetery. In the funeral trade, hearses are often called funeral coaches.-History:...
from a nearby funeral home
Funeral home
A funeral home, funeral parlor or mortuary, is a business that provides burial and funeral services for the deceased and their families. These services may include aprepared wake and funeral, and the provision of a chapel for the funeral....
to transport the pacemen to the ground. They arrived just in time and Yorkshire went on to finish at 377, Lindwall taking four of the last five wickets despite his hangover. When it was Australia's turn to bat, Miller rearranged his batting order to allow him more time to recover. As a result, with regular opener Colin McDonald absent hurt, Ian Craig
Ian Craig
Ian David Craig is a former Australian Test cricketer who represented Australia in 11 Tests between 1953 and 1958. A slightly built right-handed batsman, Craig holds the record for being the youngest Australian to make a first-class double century, gain Test selection and captain his country...
and wicket-keeper Don Tallon
Don Tallon
Donald "Don" Tallon was an Australian cricketer who played 21 Test matches as a wicket-keeper between 1946 and 1953...
opened the batting, but both were dismissed cheaply, for 19 and a duck respectively. However, Graeme Hole
Graeme Hole
Graeme Blake Hole was an Australian cricketer....
(71) and Harvey (69) consolidated the innings, and Miller came in at 3/128 and was the last man to be dismissed, having scored 86 from 195 minutes despite his hangover. He had been dropped five times during his innings, which helped Australia to avoid the follow on and end at 323. Having taken a 54-run first innings lead, Yorkshire reached 3/220 in their second innings and the match was drawn. Miller injury had improved and he took 0/40 in the second innings from 15 overs.
The Test series moved to Lord's, the home of cricket, for the second match. Miller resumed bowling a full workload, sending down 42 overs and taking a total of 1/74. Batting at No. 4, he managed 25 in the first innings, including a six, before being bowled by Wardle as Australia batted first and lost 9/156 to end on 346. England replied and Miller dismissed Trevor Bailey
Trevor Bailey
Trevor Edward Bailey CBE was an England Test cricketer, cricket writer and broadcaster.An all-rounder, Bailey was known for his skilful but unspectacular batting...
, who had resisted stubbornly in scoring only 2 runs from 34 balls, to take 1/57 from 25 overs as the hosts compiled 372. Promoted to number three in the second innings, he came to the wicket at 1/3 after the fall of Hassett to Brian Statham
Brian Statham
John Brian "George" Statham, CBE was one of the leading English fast bowlers in 20th-century English cricket. Initially a bowler of a brisk fast-medium pace, Statham was able to remodel his action to generate enough speed to become genuinely fast...
before batting patiently to reach stumps unbeaten on 58. Arthur Morris
Arthur Morris
Arthur Robert Morris MBE is a former Australian cricketer who played 46 Test matches between 1946 and 1955. An opener, Morris is regarded as one of Australia's greatest left-handed batsmen. He is best known for his key role in Don Bradman's Invincibles side, which made an undefeated tour of...
was unbeaten on 35 and Australia was at 1/96. The next morning, the pair proceeded steadily to 168, when Morris fell for 89. Miller then registered his first Test century on English soil, before being dismissed for 109 with the score at 4/235. It was the second time in the match that he had been bowled by Johnny Wardle
Johnny Wardle
Johnny Wardle was an English spin bowler of post-war cricket. His Test bowling average of 20.39, is the lowest in Test cricket by any recognised spin bowler, since World War I....
. Miller struck 14 fours and one six during his stay of 271 balls, a relatively patient innings by his standards. Australia lost wickets steadily thereafter and were bowled out for 368. Chasing 343 for victory, England held on for a draw with three wickets in hand. Their defensive approach after stumbling to 4/73 meant that Miller conceded only 17 runs from his 17 overs in the second innings. the all-rounder was not given first use of the ball after his long innings and only bowled later as the tourists attempted to wear down the English middle-order.
Australia then played Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire County Cricket Club
Gloucestershire 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 Gloucestershire. Its limited overs team is called the Gloucestershire Gladiators....
. Miller took 1/13 from seven overs, dismissing former Test batsman George Emmett as the hosts were bowled out for 137. He then made 37 in Australia's total of 9/402 declared before taking 3/34 in the second innings, all of them middle-order wickets including the home captain Jack Crapp
Jack Crapp
John "Jack" Frederick Crapp was an English cricketer, who played first-class cricket for Gloucestershire between 1936 and 1956, and played for England on tour in the winter of 1948-49....
as the tourists took a nine-wicket victory. He was then rested from the match against Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire County Cricket Club
Northamptonshire 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 Northamptonshire. Its limited overs team is called the Northants Steelbacks. The traditional club colour is Maroon. During the...
, which Australia won.
More than half of the Third Test at Old Trafford was washed out, with only seven sessions of play, resulting in another draw. It was timely for Australia, as they led by only 77 in the second innings with two wickets in hand after collapsing to be 8/35. Miller made 17 in the first innings before being bowled by Bedser, leaving Australia at 3/48. Australia then recovered with a century stand by Hole and Harvey, eventually ending at 318. Miller then took 1/38 claiming the wicket of Tom Graveney
Tom Graveney
Thomas William Graveney in Riding Mill, Northumberland, is a former English cricketer and was the President of the Marylebone Cricket Club for 2004/5. He went to Bristol Grammar School...
while bowling fast off breaks in England's first innings of 276. He then scored six with the bat in the second innings, before being stumped from the off spin
Off spin
Off spin is a type of bowling in the sport of cricket which is bowled by an off spinner, a right-handed spin bowler who uses his or her fingers and/or wrist to spin the ball from a right-handed batsman's off side to the leg side...
of Jim Laker
Jim Laker
James "Jim" Charles Laker was a cricketer who played for England in the 1950s, known for "Laker's match" in 1956 at Old Trafford, when he took nineteen wickets in England's victory against Australia...
to leave Australia at 3/18, before his fellow batsmen continued to fall, leaving the tourists at 8/35.
Miller scored only five in a non-first-class match against Netherlands, and did not bowl as Australia won the single-innings match by 127 runs. Australia then played Middlesex
Middlesex County Cricket Club
Middlesex 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 Middlesex. It was announced in February 2009 that Middlesex changed their limited overs name from the Middlesex Crusaders, to the...
at Lord's, where Miller scored a hard-hitting 71 after a night of heavy drinking, later claiming that he decided to attack and entertain because of the presence of Queen Elizabeth II. The Daily Express
Daily Express
The Daily Express switched from broadsheet to tabloid in 1977 and was bought by the construction company Trafalgar House in the same year. Its publishing company, Beaverbrook Newspapers, was renamed Express Newspapers...
opined that "It was right royal entertainment". He earlier took 1/13 in the first innings, removing Jack Robertson
Jack Robertson
Jack Robertson was an English cricketer, who played county cricket for Middlesex, and in eleven Tests for England....
and bowled four wicketless overs in the second innings as the hosts hung on for a draw, trailing by 154 runs with six wickets in hand.
Australia elected to field on a wet wicket in the Fourth Test at Headingley. Miller dismissed Edrich and Graveney and ended with 2/39 from 28 overs as England were bowled out for 167. However, it was his relationship with umpire Chester that garnered more attention. After a series of declined appeals and a barrage of short-pitched bowling at the English batsmen, Miller broke the stumps and appealed for a run out with the batsman more than a metre out of his ground, but Chester said not out. Angered, Miller appealed four more times for the wicket. Miller made only five in the first innings, to leave Australia at 3/84. However, Australia recovered to reach 266 and take a 99-run lead. In the second innings, Miller and Lindwall launched a short-pitched barrage and Miller dismissed Watson and Reg Simpson
Reg Simpson
Reginald Thomas Simpson is an English former cricketer, who played in twentry seven Tests from 1948 to 1955.-Life and career:...
in consecutive balls to be 5/171. England were 5/177 a stumps on day four, leading by 78. The pacemen were booed from the field. Miller reacted to one heckler by challenging him to a fight, which was declined. The next day, Miller dismissed Godfrey Evans
Godfrey Evans
Thomas Godfrey Evans CBE was an English cricketer who played for Kent and England.Described by Wisden as 'arguably the best wicket-keeper the game has ever seen', Evans collected 219 dismissals in 91 Test match appearances between 1946 and 1959 and a total of 1066 in all first-class matches...
early to leave England at 6/182, just 83 runs ahead with four wickets in hand, before Trevor Bailey
Trevor Bailey
Trevor Edward Bailey CBE was an England Test cricketer, cricket writer and broadcaster.An all-rounder, Bailey was known for his skilful but unspectacular batting...
began his resistance. Miller and Bailey were rivals; both were all rounders, but while Miller was attacking, Bailey was stubborn and defensive. Bailey attempted to save the match by time-wasting and causing stoppages by appealing against the light, holding discussions with his partner and withdrawing when the bowler was running in. At one point, Miller lost his cool and aimed a beamer
Beamer (cricket)
In the terminology of the game of cricket, a beamer is a type of delivery in which the ball , without bouncing, passes above the batsman's waist height. Such a ball is often dangerously close to the batsman's head, due to the lack of control a bowler has over high full tosses...
—in an illegal delivery— straight at Bailey's head, further angering the crowd. Miller later took the wicket of Tony Lock
Tony Lock
Graham Anthony Richard Lock was an English cricketer, who played primarily as a left-arm spinner. He played in forty nine Tests for England taking 174 wickets at 25.58 each.-Life and career:...
to end with 4/63 from a long spell of 47 overs and confronted another heckler on his way back to the dressing room, this time an elderly man. England held on for another draw after Bailey deliberately bowled wide down the leg side to prevent the Australian batsmen from reaching the target and used an uncharacteristically long run-up to slow down the proceedings. The teams would enter the Fifth Test at The Oval tied 0–0.
Miller had a quiet match against Surrey
Surrey County Cricket Club
Surrey County Cricket Club is one of the 18 professional county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Surrey. Its limited overs team is called the Surrey Lions...
, scoring only one and bowling two wicketless overs for two runs in a rain-affected match that did not reach the second innings. He was rested for the match against Glamorgan
Glamorgan County Cricket Club
Glamorgan 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 Glamorgan aka Glamorganshire . Glamorgan CCC is the only Welsh first-class cricket club. Glamorgan CCC have won the English County...
before returning against Warwickshire
Warwickshire County Cricket Club
Warwickshire 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 Warwickshire. Its limited overs team is called the Warwickshire Bears. Their kit colours are black and gold and the shirt sponsor...
. The home side batted first and reached 143 without loss before Miller took two quick wickets without further addition to the score. He returned to take eighth wicket, prompting a declaration. He ended with 3/48 and made a duck as Australia conceded a first innings lead of 89 runs. Miller then took 2/34, taking the only wickets to fall to a bowler, as Warwickshire declared at 3/76, before falling to Tom Dollery
Tom Dollery
Tom Dollery was an English cricketer, who played for England and Warwickshire.-Life and career:Born Horace Edgar Dollery in Reading, Berkshire, and playing Minor counties cricket for Berkshire at the age of 15, Dollery joined Warwickshire in 1934, and was a mainstay of the team until retirement in...
for 10 as the tourists stumbled to 5/53 from 58 overs when time ran out. He then scored 30 and 21 and took match figures of 4/68 as Australia defeated Lancashire by seven wickets. Miller was rested for the match against 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...
, Australia's last before the deciding Test at The Oval
The Oval
The Kia Oval, still commonly referred to by its original name of The Oval, is an international cricket ground in Kennington, in the London Borough of Lambeth. In the past it was also sometimes called the Kennington Oval...
.
Miller's last Test at The Oval
The Oval
The Kia Oval, still commonly referred to by its original name of The Oval, is an international cricket ground in Kennington, in the London Borough of Lambeth. In the past it was also sometimes called the Kennington Oval...
was his least productive; he scored one in the first innings before Bailey trapped him leg before wicket as Australia were bowled out for 275. Miller then took 1/65 with his off breaks as England took a 31-run lead. In the second innings, Miller was dismissed without scoring, caught by Fred Trueman
Fred Trueman
Frederick Sewards Trueman OBE was an English cricketer, generally acknowledged as one of the greatest fast bowlers in history. A bowler of genuinely fast pace who was widely known as Fiery Fred, Trueman played first-class cricket for Yorkshire County Cricket Club from 1949 until he retired in 1968...
at short leg from Laker's off spin. It was part of a collapse from 1/59 to 5/61, with all the wickets falling to Laker and Lock on their Surrey home ground. Australia were bowled out for 162, leaving England 132 to win. England won the match by eight wickets and regained the Ashes. Miller claimed the wicket of Peter May
Peter May
-External links:* * at Cricket Archive*...
to leave England at 2/88 but it was not enough to thwart the home team.
Miller's returns were below his Test career standards, with 223 runs at 24.77 and 10 wickets at 30.30. He took two catches in the Tests.
The final Test was followed by eight more matches, six of which were first-class. Miller missed the first of these, which was 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...
. He returned in the following match against the Gentlemen of England at Lord's, not bowling in the first innings and scoring 14 in the first innings, again trapped leg before wicket by Bailey. He then took 2/59 and scored 67 in the second innings, putting on a century partnership with Morris to seal an eight-wicket win. He followed this with 68 and 1/17 in an innings win over Kent
Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent...
. Miller did little against the South of England, scoring only nine before falling to Doug Wright
Doug Wright (cricketer)
Douglas Vivian Parson Wright, better known as Doug Wright was an English cricketer. A leg-spinner for Kent and England from 1932 to 1957 he took a record seven hat-tricks in first class cricket. He played for Kent for 25 years and was their first professional captain from late 1953 to 1956...
and taking match figures of 1/38, but Australia nevertheless completed victory by an innings and 163 runs.
Miller ended his tour against the Combined Services at Kingston
Kingston upon Thames
Kingston upon Thames is the principal settlement of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in southwest London. It was the ancient market town where Saxon kings were crowned and is now a suburb situated south west of Charing Cross. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the...
. Miller came to the crease at 1/2 after Morris was bowled for a duck. He counterattacked and reached his century before lunch, which he washed down with champagne. He then proceeded to 262 not out with 34 boundaries. This included a 377-run fourth-wicket stand by Jim de Courcy
Jim de Courcy
James Harry de Courcy was an Australian cricketer who played in three Tests on the 1953 Australian tour of England....
in only 205 minutes, followed by an unbeaten 126-run partnership with Craig. He particularly targeted Fred Trueman
Fred Trueman
Frederick Sewards Trueman OBE was an English cricketer, generally acknowledged as one of the greatest fast bowlers in history. A bowler of genuinely fast pace who was widely known as Fiery Fred, Trueman played first-class cricket for Yorkshire County Cricket Club from 1949 until he retired in 1968...
's bowling as Australia declared at 4/592. Trueman ended with 0/95 from 14 overs. He then took the first two wickets of the innings, both bowled, to leave the hosts at 2/28. He then returned to bowl Trueman and end with 3/17 as the Combined Services were bowled out for 161 and forced to follow on. He took another wicket, again castling the batsman, in the second innings as Australia easily won by an innings and 261 runs.
Miller was rested for the last three matches of the tour. These consisted of a match against TN Pearce's XI, and two matches against Scotland that were not accorded first-class status.
Overall
Miller finished the English summer with 1,433 runs at 51.17, the second highest average behind Harvey among batsmen with over 200 runs. He scored five half-centuries and four centuries, two of which were double centuries. He was the only Australian to hit two double centuries and also took ten catches and 45 wickets at 22.51. For his efforts that summer, Wisden Cricketers' Almanack named him one of its Five Cricketers of the YearWisden Cricketers of the Year
The Wisden Cricketers of the Year are cricketers selected for the honour by the annual publication Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, based primarily on their "influence on the previous English season"...
.
See also
- Keith Miller with the Australian cricket team in England in 1948Keith Miller with the Australian cricket team in England in 1948Keith Miller was a key member of Donald Bradman's famous Australian cricket team, which toured England in 1948 and went undefeated in its 34 matches. This unprecedented feat by a Test side touring England earned the Australians the sobriquet The Invincibles....
- Keith Miller with the Australian cricket team in England in 1956Keith Miller with the Australian cricket team in England in 1956Keith Miller was selected for the 1956 Ashes tour. The team travelled to England aboard the Himalaya in March. He was not called upon to bowl and scored a duck in the first match against the Duke of Norfolk's XI at Arundel Castle, a non-first-class festival match, as Australia scraped home by three...