The Golden Boy of Cricket – Cricket Memorabilia – Tour Brochures, Mono Photos, Real Postcards, Team Autograph Sheets, Scorecards – The best Aussie all-rounder ever.

Keith Ross Miller (1919 – 2004) was a charismatic all round Australian Test Cricketer, an exceptional right hand batsman who would later become noted for his fast bowling talents.

Cricket Memorabilia associated with Miller is available, although it's certainly not as prolific as that originating from other players. I personally collect Memorabilia both pre and post war and am always interested in original Keith Miller Cricket Collectables. Early events are always of interest especially his early successes in the Sheffield Shield Competition; however after a brief description of the man himself, I shall list the memorable events that I find the most appealing from a Collectors point of view.

Keith Miller was born in Melbourne, he showed an early interest in Cricket and was selected for his school 1^st eleven when he was 14, by 1936 he was playing for South Melbourne where his evident talents came to the attention of the Victoria Cricket Association, playing for the Colts in the 1936/37 season.

Miller continued to make his mark in the Shield Competition whist performing well on the football pitch in the VFL competition playing for St Kilda. He made his First Class Cricket debut for Victoria v Tasmania in February 1938 marking the event by scoring 181 runs in the 1^st innings at Melbourne Cricket Club. There is a limited amount of memorabilia commemorating this important debut event.

In 1941 Miller joined the RAAF; he was awarded his wings in 1942. He spent most of the war in England assigned to 169 Squadron where he graduated to flying Mosquito bombers. He was awarded a number of military distinctions.

At the end of the War in 1945 Miller took part in a number Victory tests, these matches are excellent for Cricket Memorabilia enthusiasts and I have listed below ones of particular interest:

1945 England v Dominions at Lords (2^nd innings 185 Caught Langridge bowled Wright)

Batting on eight occasions at Lords in the 1945 season Miller scored 568 (94.68) including three 100s, all these early matches are very collectable as is his First Class debut in February 1938.

Millers first Ashes Test was at Brisbane and I have listed below a number of good examples of Cricket Memorabilia which is associated with some events:

1946 (Debut Ashes) Australia v England at Brisbane (1^st innings 79 runs, lbw a leg break from Doug Wright, followed with a 60/7 wickets. Bradman made 187) Australia won by an innings and 332 runs.

1946 Sheffield Shield Victoria v NSW, 1^st inning run out for 153.

1947 Australia v England at Adelaide 1^st innings 141 not out,( Bradman an unlightly duck) match drawn.

1948  MCC v Australia at Lords

1948 England v Australia  at Headingley.

Any of the 1948 Invincible tour - an excellent acquisition.

1950 Sheffield Shield Victoria v Queensland both innings.

1950 Australia v England at Sydney.

There are many instances of collectable matches including some notable matches, England v West Indies (155) and his final Ashes tour in 1956, I would personally be interested in any Keith Miller Cricket Memorabilia.

He played his final Test Match in 1956 against Pakistan.

In 1956 Keith Miller became a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his services to Cricket.

In 2005 he became a Member of the Order of Australia for services to sport.

Listed below are statistics of his First Class Cricket Career:

Batting and fielding averages cricinfo

Bowling averages

Good luck with your collecting.

Let me know how you get on??

Tony Selby

Cricket Memorabilia