Vale Evan Miller
Tragically the club has lost Evan Miller, who passed away aged 37 in early August 2024 after a stint in Prince of Wales Hospital. Evan came to the Bears early in 2005 after finishing school in Port Macquarie and taking part in a NSW Combined High Schools Cricket tour of South Africa
Evan commenced his grade career in 2s at the tail end of 2004/05 season. Encouraging performances saw him start the following season in 2s as an off spin bowler and middle order bat. After a career high score of 151, the all-rounder was promoted to 1s, earning cap number 591 and becoming a regular fixture over 5 seasons.
His batting and fielding continued to impress and in 2005/06, at the age of 19, the athletic sportsman scored a century (101*) at North Sydney Oval when he guided the team to a bonus point win chasing a score of 280 in a 50-over fixture. He became the second 19-year-old batsman from Norths to score a First Grade century that year after the feat not having been achieved for over 26 years. He went on to score over 1,750 runs in 1s with two centuries and seven 50s.
Evan’s other career highlights included a memorable 50-over match against Randy Petes. Norths were in deep trouble at 5/59 and 2 batsmen retired hurt. Evan’s standout innings of 82 enabled a total that was still less than par. Usman Khawaja then put Petes in the ascendency before Evan claimed his wicket and finished with 4/32 off his 10 overs to win the game despite the Bears being two bowlers short.
Evan also claimed the wicket of Phil Jacques when he scored 321 against the Bears, falling just short of the SCA record score, and he played in our most recent Second Grade premiership-winning side in 2010/11.
Evan loved the club and its people and was a tremendously popular figure on and off the pitch. He worked very hard at his cricket before other commitments took over, with his last appearance for the Bears being in 2011/12.
Evan was a larger-than-life personality (which is hard for someone standing at 196cm tall!) and will be missed by all who played with him.