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We’ve picked all the batsmen, now it’s time to move onto the all-rounder in The Roar’s greatest Ashes XI of all time.
This was one of the closest contests in our initial poll a couple of weeks ago. England great Ian Botham ended up topping it to come into this second round as the first seed, his 36 per cent just edging him past Australia’s finest ever all-rounder, Keith Miller, who was picked in 34 per cent of teams.
Both were phenomenal all-rounders, but while Botham is probably remembered as a better Ashes performer, thanks predominantly to his exploits in 1981, it’s actually Miller who had the ever-so-slightly better record in matches between Australia and England.
In Botham’s 36 Tests against Australia, he plundered 1673 runs at 29.35 with six 50s and four centuries, all the while taking 148 wickets at 27.65.
Miller played some seven fewer Ashes matches than his all-rounder opponent, so his total runs and wickets are lower – 1511 and 87 respectively – but his averages are superior. The New South Welshman averaged 33.57 with the bat and 22.4 with the ball, and he also made as many fifties as Botham and just one less century.
Botham’s bowling strike-rate, though, was a step up on Miller’s, his wickets coming every 57.2 balls compared to the Australian’s 65.7.
At any rate, this looms as a tight contest, so be sure to get your vote in and let everyone know whether you think it’s Ian Botham or Keith Miller who should make the final XI in the comments below.
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