Oct. 12 (Bloomberg) -- Australia's cricketers will wear black armbands in the second Test against India beginning Thursday as a mark of respect to Keith Miller, the nation's most- prolific all-rounder, who died yesterday at age 84.

Cricket Australia Chief Executive James Sutherland announced the honor today at a press conference in Melbourne. Miller, who played 55 Tests for Australia between 1946 and 1956, passed away at a nursing home yesterday. Miller's family is yet to announce details of his funeral, Sutherland said.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard, who won a fourth term at a weekend election, and current Test captain Ricky Ponting were today among those to pay tribute. Ponting said in a statement that Miller was ``undoubtedly one of the greatest Australian cricketers of all time.'' Howard agreed.

``Keith Miller was very much a boyhood hero of mine,'' Howard told reporters in Canberra. ``He was one of those people who it could truly be said -- by a swashbuckling innings, or a few overs bowling very fast off a very short run, or a remarkable catch in slips -- could turn a game around.''

An aggressive middle-order batsman and strike bowler, Miller scored 2,958 runs at an average of 36.97 and took 170 wickets at 22.97. He also played 50 matches for Australian rules football team St. Kilda and was a bomber pilot in World War II.

To contact the reporter on this story: Dan Baynes in Sydney dbaynes@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: October 12, 2004 02:21 EDT