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KR Miller & Modern Bats

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KR Miller & Modern Bats
Prepared by James Laver & Simon Lusk
November 2004

"If he'd had the modern-day bats they'd have never found the balls he hit."
Alan Davidson after Keith Miller passed away in October 2004.

Keith Miller had the reputation of being a wonderful striker of the ball,
and Alan Davidson is right in saying that with a modern-day bat Miller would
have hit the ball considerably further than he did in his international
playing days from 1946 to 1957.

The bats Miller would have used were lighter and shorter than the modern
bat, usually being somewhere in the region of 2lb 2oz compared to a modern
2lb 9oz. Bats had very little wood in the back of the bat, creating a small
sweet spot and not providing the impetus that a heavier bat does. The
corollary of this is a lighter bat allows the batsman to generate better bat
speed, which helps hit the ball further, but this is negated by the lack of
power from a lighter bat.

Miller was tall, so could probably have carried a longer blade, and
considerably more weight in his bat. A straight swap for a heavier bat would
have made a huge difference the distance he hit the ball. This would
distance would have been enhanced by several other factors, including
Miller's
superb technique, placement and timing. Miller's ability would have
certainly overcome the slower bat speed derived from using a lighter bat.

Aside from the bat and Miller's ability with it, he also faced several
disadvantages playing in the era he did. Pitches were not covered and pitch
preparation was not the science it is today. It is likely that Miller played
on consistently slower pitches, meaning he would have to generate more power
with the bat.

Cricket balls in Miller's era were softer than modern balls, and become
softer still with use. This was partly a factor of their construction, and
partly a factor of the outfields. Outfields were not the immaculately
manicured grounds that they now are, with the rougher outfield softening up
the ball quicker than the modern grounds do. The hardness of the ball
contributes to the distance the ball travels, a softer, older ball does not
travel anywhere near as far as a harder ball.

Comparing cricket in Miller's era and the modern game, the modern game is a
much more precise sport, with better-conditioned athletes and better game
plans, so Miller may have face attacks that targeted his weaknesses and
avoided his strengths. These factors may have reduced the number of times
Miller hit the ball a long way, but it is hard to imagine they would have
impacted on the distance Miller hit the ball.

A modern bat is gives batsmen the opportunity to mis-hit the ball and still
go a long way. A modern bat's extra weight, made from top grade willow and
knocked in properly gives the batsman a 'get out of jail free card'. Miller
never had this because he did not have the extra weight in the bat. In my
view Alan Davidson's comments are correct - with a modern bat in the modern
game on modern grounds Miller would have hit considerably further than he
did.

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