Keith Miller

Keith Miller, who died early in 2005, was perhaps the greatest all-rounder Australian cricket has ever seen, and one of its most loved and legendary figures in both the UK and Australia. Like his English counterpart Denis Compton, and a more modern legend like Ian Botham. Miller played like he lived his life: to the full. Roland Perry has had full access to Miller's papers and to his family members to produce the definitive biography. Miller was a dashing batsman who could take a bowling attack apart. In his prime he was also a fearsome fast bowler.

He also had a prodigious appetite for gambling, alcohol and gambling - Princess Margaret appears to have been one of his many liaisons. In the epic test battles between England Australia he always played an instrumental part. But he was a legend for another reason: during the war he flew Mosquitos for the RAF, and ever after endured severe "survivor's guilt" that so many of his comrades had perished in service.