MILLER OR SOBERS -

Who is the best all-round cricketer of all time?

It is my boundless privilege to have been around when the finest in each sport worked his magic - Donald Bradman, Jesse Owens, Dhyan Chand, Pele, Cassius Clay, David Campese, Mark Phelps, Sena, Armstrong and Borg.

The runners-up have been almost as worthy of the crown and Sugar Ray Robinson has been, arguably, the finest boxer, pound for pound and even in our secluded world, Duncan White, Brian Assey, Mylvaganam whose ivories have been embedded in a multitude of hockey sticks, Duncan's bother Freddie White who was, ceratinly, the finest hockey goalie of his day and whose virtuosity at the goal mouth allowed us to lose to world champions India and Pakistan by the odd goal, Peter Ranasinghe, Mahinds Aluivihare, Sathasivam and a host of others like Kumar Sangakkara who re-defined sportsmanship and has scripted that "you don't have to be ugly to win" - they gave sports a special flavour My choice to occupy the slot as the finest ever all-round cricketer is alligned to that of C.I. Gunasekera who opts for Keith Miller as opposed to the popularly voted Garfield Sobers. Wherever Miller played "became the epicenter of cricket and the artistry and precision of his late cutting were usually the preserve of shorter players like Bradman or Compton. Denzil Bachelor has said that "the nearest fielder seemed in Mesopatamia." As a batsman, Miller did not have to surpass himself because there was hardly the need.

When he came in to bat the jug of runs was overflowing with contributions from Arthur Morris, Sid Barnes, Bradman and Harvey. He is known to have thrown his wicket away in disgust with the gorging of runs under Bradman's stewardship against hapless Essex. "He'll learn," muttered Bradman at the non-striker's end.

Sobers, on the other hand, had to grind his runs because of the irresolute West Indies batting of his day.

As a tear-awy partner to Lindwall, Miller's fastest ball was faster than Lindwall's. He would get 3 or 4 early scalps and they were of calibered Walter Hammond, Len Huton, Denis Compton, Cyril Washbrook before Bradman took him off the lethal attack and tossed the ball to Johnston to get his bunnies.

Miller would bowl an average of ten overs per inning as opposed to Sobers who would have to bowl double as much and just as Sobers could bowl his cutters and spin, Miller also bowled off-spin and leg.

If Sobers was spring-heeled so was Miller who had the edge as a fielder specially in the slips "where he could catch swallows." The finest all-rounder and leader of men that Australia produced was never given the captaincy of his country because Bradman called the shots and remembered for ever "He'll learn".

Miller played to enjoy his game and give satisfaction to spectators. Even when he led his county, NSW to the field and there had been twelve, he would say, "Count eleven and scatter to position." He never felt any pressure in the game. When asked by a reporter if he had ever felt pressure his answer was, "Pressure? You ask about pressure in cricket? Pressure is having a Messerschift up your arse."He was, ofcourse, referring to his days as a fighter pilot during World War 2 and the German 'spitz' on his 'tail'.

What, ho, of Sobers? John Arlott has said that "some indifferent verses made Coleridge less than a great poet." So be it with Sobers in cricket even though "he has taken up cricket matches and re-modeled them to suit his own design." He also performed the "impossible" of 1,000 runs and 50 wickets twice in an Australian season and was knighted for his services to cricket in the New Year's Honours in 1975.

Sobers played 93 Test matches and scored 8,023 runs at an average of 57.78 with 26 centuries, 235 wickets and 110 catches. Miller played in only 55 Tests, scored 2,958 runs because he had to with 7 centuries, snared 170 wickets and took 129 catches.

Knighthood evaded Miller even though he had been in the chambers of Buckingham Palace as a fond guest and even though he was named in Australia's "Test Team of the Century" and was selected by Bradman for his personal "Best Team Ever." Have I convinced you? Sharm de Alwis - 82/1, Kandy Road, Kiribathgoda . 0777 783 070