Lawrie Miller

Who was Lawrie Miller?

Lawrence Somerville Martin Miller was a cricketer who played for Central Districts, Wellington and New Zealand.

A tall left-handed batsman, Miller was a late developer who made his first class debut at 27 when Central Districts entered the Plunket Shield for the 1950-51 season. Batting in the middle order he top-scored in the first match with 46, and again in the second match with 64, when Central Districts had their first victory. He did not play in 1951-52, but returned in force in 1952-53: 103 not out against Wellington, 128 not out and 89 not out against Canterbury, 77 and 31 against Otago, and 43 against Auckland, amassing 471 runs at 157.00.

He played in the two Tests later that season against South Africa, making 17, 13 and 44, and was selected to tour South Africa in 1953-54. He failed there though, making only 47 runs in four Tests including four successive ducks. In the Second Test at Johannesburg he was felled by a sharply rising ball from Neil Adcock that struck him over the heart, and was taken to hospital. Although he was not expected to bat again in the innings, he returned to the crease straight from hospital at the fall of the fifth wicket and resisted the bowling for another half-hour. After the tour he found belated form in Australia on the way home, scoring 142 against South Australia and 60 against Victoria.