Miller says he's happy to step aside

Australian off-spinner Colin Miller said on Tuesday he hoped that England would prepare green seaming wickets for the Ashes Test series starting next month.

"I hope they do because with (Brett) Lee, (Jason) Gillespie and (Glenn) McGrath, we (spinners Miller and Shane Warne) won't have to bowl at all," Miller told reporters.

"Three quicks, with 15 overs an innings, that will be it."

Given that scenario Miller, named as Australia's Test player of the year in February (32 wickets at 21.12), admitted he would struggle to play more than one or two tests in the five-match series.

But the 37 year-old, who made his test debut as a 34-year-old six months after switching from medium-pace to off-spin, said he had been training to bowl medium-pace to give himself a better chance of playing.

"I have been training to bowl medium pace. So you never know. I'll give myself the best chance and then it's up to how I perform over there."

Miller, who will leave Australia next week to join the team, said his best chance to play may come in tests later in the series.

"The Oval is definitely a spinning wicket," said Miller, who appeared during the Sydney test against the West Indies in January with bright blue hair.

"I think the third test (at Nottingham) is a spinning wicket as well. It will depend on what the score is in the series when those two tests come around.

Miller said he had been in England for the last four Ashes series, either playing domestically or following the tour, and this time he hoped to play.

"I've been sitting on the other side of the fence watching it so this time hopefully I'll get one test in and have my mates watching me play test cricket in England."

Miller said he felt sympathy for leg-spinner Stuart MacGill, 30, who has been overlooked for this tour despite strong performances when Warne, 31, has been unavailable through injury.

"Stuie basically just has to do what I've done and just bide his time," Miller said.

Mail Cricket Editor