Miller quits first-class cricket

Colin Miller, the hero of every sporting thirty-something still waiting hopefully by the phone for a call from the national selectors, has retired from first-class cricket.

Miller made his Test cricket debut at the ripe old age of 34 in one of the best Australian sides ever.

He called it quits four years later when new Victorian coach David Hookes made it clear there was no place for him in a rebuilding Bushrangers side that stumbled through last season.

"David and I get on well together, we go back a long way and we had a long talk about it," Miller said.

"I was pleased because I knew David would either say yes or no to me on whether I was going to play or not.

"He wouldn't make me hang around for two or three games a season, which is what happened to me last year."

Miller started his first-class career as a medium-pacer with Victoria way back in 1985-86, only a year after Allan Border had replaced a tearful Kim Hughes as Australian skipper.

Without making much impression on the first-class scene, Miller moved to South Australia in 1988-89 and then to Tasmania four years later.

The turning point, literally, came when he started dabbling in off-spin.

He finally came to the attention of the national selectors when he took a record 67 Sheffield Shield wickets for Tasmania in 1997-98 with a mixture of spin and medium pace.

Miller made his Test debut against Pakistan the following season, claiming a wicket with his fifth delivery.

"Certainly the last four years exceeded all expectations, from the time I turned 34 it all changed for me for the better," said the 38-year-old Miller.

"I had a great time with the Australian team, it's more than I could have expected.

"The 18 Tests for Australia, I don't think I had a bad game.

"I know my figures stack up pretty well for what I did - coming in at an older age I can hold my head pretty high."

Miller claimed 69 Test wickets at an average of 26.15 with his mixture of off-spin and medium pace and was voted the Australian Test player of the year in 2001.

He also took 446 first-class wickets at 30.97.

But that was only part of the story.

Miller's laid-back attitude was reminiscent of an earlier era, even if his constantly changing hair colour was not.

Along with the wickets, wins and awards, Miller listed the chance to travel the world as one of his career highlights.

He had seven years playing club cricket in England and another two in the Netherlands.

But right now his plans for next summer don't extend much beyond playing for Footscray in the Victorian district competition "enjoying a few lie-ins, catching up with my friends and living a more normal lifestyle".