Funky’ Miller is different from the rest
Everything I bowl now has been self-taught. The fact that I took up spin at a late age and progressed pretty quickly means I think I pick up things pretty quickly anyway, says off-spinner Colin Miller in an exclusive interview with Mark Ray.
Australian bowler Colin Miller is an unusual Test cricketer. After playing for three states in Australia as a medium-pacer, Miller began experimenting with off-spin and soon was bowling both at first class level. In 1997-98 he took a record 67 wickets in 10 Sheffield Shield matches and made his Test debut at Rawalpindi in September 1998. Recently he was named Australia's best Test player of the year.
Miller, now 37, is known as "Funky" for his love of partying and the nightlife. A true individual, he has played cricket and travelled all over the world. From 17 Tests so far he has taken an excellent 67 wickets at 25.46. Mark Ray speaks to the versatile cricketer.
Is this your first visit to India and how have you found it so far?
I've had friends who've come here and backpacked around for six months or so and come back and told me all about it. So I've been interested in the place for quite a few years.
I'd like to come back in a couple of years and maybe spend between three and six months travelling around and seeing the real part of the country. On cricket tours you never see the real country.
You see buses and grounds and hotels. I'd like to get out and walk around the towns and meet the real people.
You have travelled a lot. Where have you been?
Last year I went to Bolivia, Peru and the Amazon. They're a lot different to this. Even though Bolivia is almost a third world country, the organisation is very good, the buildings are well kept and nicely painted. It's all very tourist-orientated.
I've travelled all over Europe. I go to Thailand regularly. I've been to New York, South Africa, Egypt, Nepal. I like places like India. It's exciting. I enjoyed Pakistan on my first tour. The people are nice and friendly and would do anything for you. And I don't think it's because of who we are. They're just happy we've come to see their country.
Will you keep your blue hair during this tour?
No, it's going. I had it cut very short in Mumbai and the blue will grow out in a couple of weeks. Then I'll shave it again. I might grow it again in England and dye it to excite the members of the MCC. In the first few days of this tour when it was longer all the locals were staring and pointing and saying "I love your blue hair".
Some past Indian players are saying you could be the biggest threat in the series. What is your reaction to this?
I take that as a huge compliment coming from the Indians. To have people from such a spinners' country say that about me is great.
Why do you think they are saying this?
Maybe because I bowl my off-spinners quicker than most they think the Indian batsmen won't be able to attack me as much as they do normal spinners. The pace I bowl will probably help me more than anyone else because the slower wickets aren't going to affect me as much as the traditional spinner.
What about your medium pacers?
I certainly hope to contribute with my mediums. If the wickets are slow and keeping a bit low in the second innings my meds could be quite handy.
Have you sought advice about bowling in India from other spinners?
I haven't spoken to any other spinners about bowling here and I don't like to talk to other bowlers. No disrespect to them. I'm a different spinner to most, just because of the pace I bowl.
Everything I bowl now has been self-taught. The fact that I took up spin at a late age and progressed pretty quickly means I think I pick up things pretty quickly anyway.
So I don't want other peoples' thoughts in my mind all the time when I'm teaching myself. I tend to talk to Warney about variations or line. He's very understanding of all spin bowling and he's the only guy I'd ask. And it'd be a one-minute conversation, a quick pick of his brain and that's it.