As a young kid, I heard my dad share a lot of stories about his cricket career and he loved nothing more than stories of the great Keith Miller.
You see dad was Ron Briggs and he was fortunate to play 15 first-class games for NSW in the 1950s under the leadership of Miller.
It wasn’t until I was older that I appreciated his Miller stories.
In dad’s first game for NSW under Miller leadership, Jimmy Burke said, “whatever you do, don’t ask Miller where to field.” Dad asked him “why?” Burke replied, “just don’t, pick somewhere and go there.” To dads amazement with no field placings from the skipper he just kept picking positions in the field of his judgement through day.
It wasn’t long before Miller found out about dads love of the horses and a punt so he ended up next to Miller in the slips with Miller at first and dad at second with Miller talking about all sorts of things particularly the horse racing game but there was never any chat regarding the cricket match. He would make bowling changes and he would only bowl if he was in the mood.
As I working my way through the Grades at Northern District in Sydney I was fortunate to be selected for the Australian Under 19s tour of Pakistan.
The team gathered at the Travelodge in Rushcutters Bay in February 1981 for a couple of days to get to know our fellow squad members before flying out to Karachi.
The day before leaving we had a net session at the SCG followed by a function in the City and were told our special guest for the night was Keith Miller.
I couldn’t believe it. I rang dad as soon as we got back to the Hotel.
We filed in looking flash in our blazers and ties and Miller was sitting on a corner of a table and we were introduced one by one to the great man.
When it came to my turn, he looked at me “Briggs, Briggs”, I replied “yes, I’m Ron Briggs’s son” in which he replied, “well bugger me!!”
As the night went on, I heard from the other side of the room the booming voice of Miller, “Briggsy, get over here I’ve got a few stories about your old man I want to tell you.”
This bloke didn’t know me from a bar of soap but now we’re having a drink together like we were best mates with Miller sharing stories about my dad from those great years where I think they won the Sheffield Shield just about every year throughout the 1950s.
What a night it was, something I’ve cherished and never forgotten. I’d like to add that boarding the plane the next morning for Pakistan, I wasn’t in a good state if you know what I mean.