Keith Miller with the Australian cricket team in England in 1948

Keith Miller was a member of Donald Bradman’s famous Australian cricket team, which toured England in 1948. Miller played a vital role in the side’s success in the Test series, particularly with the ball. Despite a back injury which meant he passed one Test without bowling, he took 13 wickets in the series at an average of 26. 28. In all first-class matches on the tour, Miller scored 1,088 runs at 47. 30 and took 56 wickets at 17. 58. He finished at the top of the Australian Test bowling averages, and was second in the batting averages.

About Keith Miller with the Australian cricket team in England in 1948 in brief

Keith Miller was a member of Donald Bradman’s famous Australian cricket team, which toured England in 1948 and went undefeated in its 34 matches. Miller played a vital role in the side’s success in the Test series, particularly with the ball. Despite a back injury which meant he passed one Test without bowling, he took 13 wickets in the series at an average of 26. 28. He played a key role in subduing England’s leading batsmen, Len Hutton and Denis Compton, with a barrage of short-pitched bowling. In all first-class matches on the tour, Miller scored 1,088 runs at 47. 30 and took 56 wickets at 17. 58. He finished at the top of the Australian Test bowling averages, and was second in the batting averages, scoring 384 runs at 76. 80. Miller had played for Australia in every Test match since the resumption of international cricket after World War II. He emerged as a frontline fast bowler during the Victory Tests, a series of friendly games between England and Australia in 1945. He made his official Test debut against New Zealand in early 1946. Since then, he had opened the bowling with Ray Lindwall and played as a front-line batsman, usually at number five. Miller was also a skillful slip fielder, regarded by his captain as the best in the world. His friendship with Princess Margaret was also particularly scrutinised by the media. He scored a hard-hitting 50 not out in the opening game against Worcestershire. He bowled 20 overs in the game for 154, after coming in to bat at No 9.

The tour was followed by a game against Leiceshire; Miller was promoted to No 3. He was dropped three times and featured in a second-run partnership with Sid Barnes, although he was expecting the gate to open. Miller scored 202 in five and a half hours and was dropped by Bradman three times. He also played three scores over 150 for his state, Victoria; his runs were scored at a rapid pace and featured many powerful shots. In one match against Essex, he deliberately allowed himself to be bowled first ball in protest against Australia’s ruthless approach to batting; that day, his side set a world record for the most runs scored in a day of first- class cricket. Miller’s charisma—coupled with the unprecedented popularity of the Australians—meant that he was in demand at social events on the Tour. He had a light workload in the 1947–48 home Test series against India, which Australia won 4–0; his teammates often finished off the opposition before he had an opportunity, especially with the bat, including two half-centuries. In addition to scoring his maiden Test century in that series, Miller also hit three scoresover 150 for Victoria. Miller and his teammates arrived in Southampton in April after a sea voyage from Australia aboard the SS Strathaird. Following the custom for their tours of England, Australia fielded its first-choice team in England, Miller was selected strongly and started the tour strongly.