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Miller would get vote over Davidson

by A. C. de Silva

Cricket in Australia held centre stage in the good old days, first with the mercurial Don Bradmon and subsequently with a string of other great players.

Australia had two really outstanding great all-rounders in Keith Miller and Alan Davidson and a question that was often asked those days; who was the greater all-rounder Keith Miller or Davidson? It all makes for that type of rambling conversation which is such an on-going topic in cricket, more so, perhaps, than in any other game. The old boys of the past, somewhat naturally, immediately fly to the attack when the past is involved.

One is not prepared to join a debate on the respective merits of teams over a number of years. A salient point is the nature of the opposition faced, but on two individuals, like Miller and Davidson, opinion could be given because they were, in a large degree, contemporary.

In 55 Tests, Miller scored 2,958 runs with seven centuries. He took 170 wickets at an average of 20.7. In 30 Tests, Davidson has scored 1,170 runs, with no centuries although he has passed fifty-five times. He has taken 162 wickets, average 20.7. Miller's greatest bowling feat was at Lord's in 1956 when he took 10 for 152. Davidson's best was 12 for 124 against India in 1959-60 but perhaps his best all-round match was against the West Indies in the historic tie at Brisbane in 1960 and made 44 and 80. Miller's best all-round feats were 79 and 9 for 77 against England in 1946-47, 145 not out and 4 for 37 against England in 1950-51 and 109 and 8 for 165 against the West Indies in 1955.

Figures can be misleading and additionally, they are the refuge of those who base their writing only on statistics. If an opinion is to be given on the merits of these two players - and these two would have been great in any period of the game - it must be given on an assessment of what is remembered, of feats done against strength and at tough times, and on one's own basis of what constitutes greatness.

Keith Miller suffered from a war disability and sometimes wasn't fit and many times he did his bowling job when he was suffering pain.

Davidson was too young for the war but he, too, often suffered from injuries. He was much more injury-prone than Miller and if one were to judge which man was most likely to be on deck, to answer all calls, the vote would go to Miller.

Davidson has often needed great cajoling by a man like Benqud to forget his ills and to get on with the job. That is not against Davidson but it is an important point in Miller's favour.

Who delivered the maximum balls in an innings:?

Sonny Ramadhin of West Indies delivered 588 balls against England at Birmingham in 1957.

Who was 'Collie' Smith?

Collie Smith was one of the outstanding West Indies cricket personalities. He was a punishing right handed batsman, a scintillating stroke maker and a splendid fielder. Smith made 44 and 104 in his first Test against Australia. He was also a useful off break bowler. He played 26 Tests, made 1,331 runs (Av: 31.69) and took 48 wickets for 1,625 runs (Av: 33.85). He had not yet reached his prime when in September 1959, he died of injuries in a car accident, a car driven by his great friend, Gary Sobers.

Smith's body was taken back to Jamaica where 60,000 people attended the funeral. He was 27.


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