Australian Keith Miller, rated as one of cricket'sgreatest all-rounders, died in Melbourne today aged 84, a family spokesman said.
Miller, who played in Don Bradman's 'Invincibles' teamon the 1948 tour of England, passed away peacefully at a nursing home on theMornington Peninsula south of Melbourne, the spokesman said.
He was a magnificent attacking batsman, averagingalmost 37 in 55 Tests and claimed 170 wickets at 22.97.
Miller made his Test debut in 1946-47 against NewZealand and retired after the 1956 tour of England.
As an aggressive lower-order batsman, Miller was one ofthe game's biggest hitters and thrilled crowds with his adventurous play.
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With his good looks, flowing mop of black hair andaudacious talent, Miller was a favourite of cricket fans around the world.
A gifted all-round sportsman, Miller played 50Victorian Football League (now AFL) games for St. Kilda and represented Victoriain 1946.
Miller was also a World War fighter pilot with hisservice intervening into his early cricket career.
His wife Marie was with him when he passed away. Hewould have been 85 next month.
Former India skipper Vijay Hazaredescribed Miller as "a great all rounder and a very good but unpredictablebowler."
"He was a great all rounder. He was a verygood middle order batsman and a very good fast bowler, but was veryunpredictable (as a bowler)," said Hazare.
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"He used to take a long run up and bowl spinners,even googlies. But he could bowl very fast with a run-up of just two or threesteps," India's all-time great batsman of the 1940s and 50s said.
Hazare earned the respect of Sir Donald Bradman'sall-conquering team of the late 1940s with his fabulous feat of scoringcenturies in each innings of the Adelaide Test in the inaugural series betweenthe two countries Down Under in 1947-48.
India lost that Test by an innings and the five-matchseries 0-4 against the legendary Australian team whose three-pronged pace attackcomprised Ray Lindwall, Miller and Bill Johnston.
Miller made 185 runs with two half tons averaging 37per innings and claimed nine wickets at 24.78 apiece in the series againstIndia. Though he never toured India for a Test series, he was part of theAustralian Services team, under Lindsay Hassett, that toured India soon afterthe World War II.
"I had high respect and regard for Miller. Hispassing away is a great loss for the game," said the former India captainwho played under late Lala Amarnath against Bradman's powerful outfit andamassed 429 runs in the rubber averaging a shade over 47 per innings.
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