Stuart MacGill announces his retirement

[howardj]

Geez, a bit heavy for a retirement thread, isn't it?

Obviously he probably played a couple of matches too many, but he was still a very good bowler for quite a number of years and deserves at least a bit of respect IMO.

Anyway, I think most of us could see it coming. He clearly wasn't going to be able to carry on for much longer, and his performances for more than a season now were falling away pretty badly.

I always liked MacGill because he managed to be a professional sportsman and also have a personality that was slightly more interesting than a cardboard box, which is a rare feat. So, sad to see him go, in that sense.

Which I paid him on Page 2.

 

[aussie]

MacGill only got 164 (so far) against Test-class teams though. And while you don't fluke doing that, getting them at an average in the early-30s (which flatters him) is hardly a terrific achievement. Nor is that strike-rate people go on so much about particularly good, being just shy of 60.

why did you leave out the super-test?

 

[howardj]

MacGill Bombshell http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23795265-952,00.html

 

[Zinzan]

This adds more interest on the possible Warne one-off Ashes comeback for mine. Remember Warne mentioned something along the lines that only if Aust were short of other experienced spinners i.e MacGill retired would he consider it. Watch the space

 

[Langeveldt]

Deadset one of my favourite cricketers, will miss Magilla, but it was time for him to go.. Look forward to Australia not producing a spinner of his or Warne's ilk.. Reckon if Macgill played for any other country, he'd have at least 300 test wickets..

 

[howardj]

On reflection, I think he misses the wily ways of Buchanan- seems to be a direct correlation between the departure of the Super-Coach and MacGilla's form.

 

[Johnners]

Well played MacGill, except for the last few, that is.

 

[andyc]

Geez, a bit heavy for a retirement thread, isn't it?

Obviously he probably played a couple of matches too many, but he was still a very good bowler for quite a number of years and deserves at least a bit of respect IMO.

Anyway, I think most of us could see it coming. He clearly wasn't going to be able to carry on for much longer, and his performances for more than a season now were falling away pretty badly.

I always liked MacGill because he managed to be a professional sportsman and also have a personality that was slightly more interesting than a cardboard box, which is a rare feat. So, sad to see him go, in that sense.

AWTA

 

[honestbharani]

Good spinner. Unusual in the fact that while he wasn't (or at least, didn't seem to be) a necessarily better spinner than some of the others going around in world cricket at that time, he was still taking wickets and striking at a better rate than most of them. Maybe it is the fact that his good deliveries seem to come in between very very bad or ordinary ones, so maybe the batsman are just not sure what is goiing to come next. Certainly, that must be a reason why he was a better bowler for a period there than even Warney... He didn't bowl consistently well but he bowled enough good deliveries in between bad ones to get a number of wickets and get them quickly enough for his team.. Good bowler and seemed like a guy who would stand up for his principles, although he seems to be someone who would get angry for no particular reason too..


AT the end of the day, I will remember him as a good bowler, a honest trier otherwise in teh cricket field, and someone who had the guts to accept that he wasn't good enough anymore and quit in the middle of a series. Fair play to MacGill. Australia will cerrtainly miss him, esp. if the other spin options are as bad as being mentioned here.

 

[roseboy64]

Don't get him started. Please.

Point proven below I guess. Granted, you don't like it but what other sport is it except cricket. Really silly.

Dunno, darts maybe?

 

[Jono]

MacGill's an interesting one. I loved seeing him get smashed, but I bowled very similar to him personally, and loved the fact that he was different to anyone else. He was unique, that's for sure.

I reckon at the end of the day I'll miss him.

 

[Jono]

MacGill Bombshell http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23795265-952,00.html

Legspinner MacGill will admit he slept in and missed the team bus, arriving after play started when Australia was batting on the second morning of the Test.

Test scores

There were rumours he had a night on the drink and may have been affected by alcohol.

But he and coach Tim Nielsen will refute the claims the NSW veteran was intoxicated and team management is standing by MacGill.

Former West Indian champion Viv Richards walked into the ground with MacGill and reported the legspinner was "sheepish" but did not appear under the influence of alcohol.

"I walked in with him and I talked to him, he looked OK to me," Richards said."He was a bit sheepish and he knew he would be in trouble with the team. He knew he would get a slap on the wrist. But otherwise he looked OK."

After play today, MacGill is expected to claim he simply slept in and will insist he was not under the influence of alcohol.

It is understood he was out the night before, drinking with friends, however it is unclear what time he returned to his hotel room.

Interesting.

 

[Top_Cat]

MacGill's an interesting one. I loved seeing him get smashed, but I bowled very similar to him personally, and loved the fact that he was different to anyone else. He was unique, that's for sure.

I reckon at the end of the day I'll miss him.

Get this man into the Test side!

 

[NUFAN]

Hope he bags a fiver in the last innings of this test. weather permitting.

 

[James90]

It's an interesting one this. Australia have always been (and rightfully so) about picking the best XI players they could. That would mean Noffke will get a game with Tait and Bollinger biting at his heels. However, there will be teams and conditions where a spinner would be a bigger asset than four seamers. Maybe it's best to give Casson a few games and just hope that maybe he'll come good.

If you're going to think of picking McGain you may as well go knocking down Warnie's door IMO.

 

[silentstriker]

I enjoyed watching him quite a bit. Spun the ball beautifully. I was looking forward to seeing him in India later in the year, but I guess that is not to be.

 

[NUFAN]

The most under appreciated bowler to have taken 200 Test Wickets in history? I think so, or very close.

MacGill is actually in 50th place on the all time wicket taking list. One place above him is Harmison, another contender I guess for the under appreciated.

MacGill has a better bowling average than:
Kumble, Gibbs, Harbajhan, Bedi, Vettori, Qadir, Chandrasekhar, Kaneria and Saqlain.

 

[Migara]

Overrated bowler TBH. His stats have been boosted by playing dispropotionately high number of matches against teams who were poor against spin. Average of 40+ against India and Sri Lanka (even on spinning tracks) tells its own story.

Aussies are in a crisis IMO. Which ever leggie they are going to pick for Indian tour is going to get smoked. Better pick a finger spinner who can bowl flat, but can spin it a bit doing that for Indian tracks.

 

[NUFAN]

Overrated bowler TBH. His stats have been boosted by playing dispropotionately high number of matches against teams who were poor against spin. Average of 40+ against India and Sri Lanka (even on spinning tracks) tells its own story.

Aussies are in a crisis IMO. Which ever leggie they are going to pick for Indian tour is going to get smoked. Better pick a finger spinner who can bowl flat, but can spin it a bit doing that for Indian tracks.

Oh poor MacGill he played against countries who are bad against spin and did well. Better not include those stats and just include the stats where he went ****house.

 

[Migara]

that was meant as a joke?