According to Keith Ross Miller, Australia's greatest-ever allrounder, there are no two ways about it. The current Australian team led by Steve Waugh, is the best in living memory – better even than Don Bradman's 1948 Invincibles, the team which he was part of in the aftermath of the Second World War. Miller, who flew with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in the war, also played his cricket as if propelled by wings of speed. Along with Denis Compton, he was one of cricket's first pin-up icons, playing his cricket with a vim and vigour beyond lesser men. In 55 Tests, he scored 2958 runs, including seven centuries, and took 170 wickets.

Miller, who's now 83, made a rare appearance at a dinner in Melbourne on Tuesday night, and marvelled at the skill and depth of the current Australian side.

"They have to be the best side that I've seen, without doubt," he said. "I think they're brilliant. The batting is outstanding, the bowling is pretty good too and the fielding is just brilliant."

He also expressed the view that the unrivalled depth of Australia's first-class cricket was the secret of the unparalleled success they have enjoyed in recent years. Steve Waugh appreciated his comments, a welcome change from the "Everything was better in our day" drivel dished out by many former greats, on the eve of the Adelaide Test, the second of the Ashes series.

Waugh referred to Miller as one of the all-time greats and said, "It's nice to hear. It's nice to be recognised by your fellow players, but it doesn't mean you are the best side going round and we certainly don't want to get a big head out of it. I've said all along that this side would be competitive with any side that's played the game and I stick by those words."

Australia beat South Africa 5-1 over six Tests, home and away, last season and only the ICC's World Championship table refuses to recognise that there's a street, and maybe a highway or two, between them and every other side. As for Miller, one of the few Australians to be openly critical of Bradman during his playing days, the passing years clearly haven't taken the candour out of him. The Nugget shines on.

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