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Miller 'thrilled' with Jimmy

Chris Ostick
25/ 9/2008

GEOFF Miller is "thrilled to bits" with Jimmy Anderson.

But the man who picks the England squad has challenged the Lancashire bowler to step up his game even more over the next 12 months.

Anderson (pictured) was the only fast bowler to play every Test for England this summer, and was rewarded by leading the wicket-taking charts against South Africa and New Zealand.

And the 26-year-old has now appears to have put years of inconsistency behind him to become a major threat on the international scene.

But England's national selector wants more.

"He has done absolutely brilliantly," said Miller. "He has worked on his game, he has worked on his fitness, he is an athlete in the field and he has done really, really well. I am thrilled to bits with the lad.

"He has assessed his game and realised he has been given that responsibility and he has responded to that responsibility. Performance-wise it used to be one day on and three days off.

"He appreciated that, he was told that and knew that - and he worked hard.

"Now it is three on and one off. The next level for him is to have four on and none off.

"He is a good international bowler now, he swings the ball both ways."

Anderson has been joined back in the England side by his Lancashire team-mate Andrew Flintoff.

And although Miller feels Freddie is back to his best, he also feels there is more to come from the 30-year-old.

"Yes he is at his best, but he has to put in the performances consistently," said Miller. "He has come back from a rough time for a year or so, but he is a tough lad, a tough character and I have no doubt whatsoever that he will start putting in consistent performances. But he has only played a few games and time will tell.

"Freddie playing the way he can play would be in any international side in any kind of cricket.

"He is a larger-than-life character, wants to win and wants to be part of it. He is a great inclusion to the side."

Flintoff's fitness, the 5-0 Ashes drubbing in Australia and his well-publicised misdemeanours while vice captain during last year's World Cup meant he wasn't even mentioned as a contender for skipper when Michael Vaughan resigned earlier this summer.

But Miller hasn't ruled out Freddie one-day leading his country again.

He said: "I think Freddie is at a nice position now where he knows what he is capable of doing with bat and ball.

"He just wants to put in those performances.

"But in the future, who knows what is going to happen?"

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