Miller recognised in New Year honours

Geoff Miller, the outgoing England national selector, has been appointed an OBE in the New Year's Honours list.

Miller, 61, has been recognised for his services to sport having played 34 Test matches for England between 1976 and 1984 before becoming a member of the selection panel in 2000.

He was appointed national selector in 2008 and oversaw England's rise to becoming No. 1 across all three formats of the game. During his tenure England beat Australia Down Under for the first time in 24 years and won a global one-day trophy for the first time.

Miller decided to step down from his post at the end of the year and will be succeeded by former Leicestershire captain James Whitaker.

ECB chief executive David Collier praised Miller's outstanding service to cricket over five decades: ""It's marvellous to see Geoff recognised in this way. He can reflect with enormous pride on the magnificent contribution he has made to our game - in particular his role in helping deliver three successive Ashes wins and the World T20 in 2010.

"We congratulate Geoff on his achievement and I am sure that today's announcement will be welcomed by his many friends and colleagues within our first-class game as well as by current and former members of the England team."

John Pickup, the chairman of ECB's recreational assembly, has been appointed an MBE having worked for the ECB since its inception in 1997 and been secretary of Cheshire Minor Counties for 25 years.

"John has given a lifetime's service to cricket," Collier said. "This award is fitting recognition for the hugely important role he has played in the wider development of the sport both with ECB and its predecessor, the Test and County Cricket Board.

"He has been a great champion, in particular, of our recreational game and his knowledge and expertise in this area remain invaluable."

Keith Oliver, the chairman of Cricket Scotland, was also appointed an OBE.