posted Jun 2, 2008

On his day MacGill was an excellent leg spinner. Clearly he's now past his best and clearly the Aussies have one eye on the Ashes and MacGill knows as much the Aussie Cricket Board that the time is right to let someone hungrier and fitter to take his place and get some useful experience. Warne coming back would be a ridiculous decision and i'm sure he wouldn't be picked, as, unlike England, they are looking to the future.
Beau Casson has a lot to live up to but looks to have all the attributes to give England a going over. He's another leg spinner (why haven't England got one yet?) and unlike MacGill, Casson can bat a bit, and after 40 first class matches has a useful average of 25.

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posted Jun 2, 2008

<< His record is better than it looks because he's bowled about 75% in tests where the wickets are big turners (SGE etc.)

>> Ok i suppose you could argue that. But lets consider this. Why has:-

Anil Kumble got a bowling average of 29
Danish Kaneria got a bowling average of 34
Mushtaq Ahmed got a bowling average of 33
Harbhajan Singh got a bowling average of 31

These guys all frequently bowl on tracks suited to spin bowling. Yet their average is not as good as that of Stuart Macgill.

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posted Jun 2, 2008

No they don't always play on spinning tracks.

What about in away test matches ?

MacGill is a very good bowler don't get me wrong but when someone says he would of been the third greatest spinner of all time, it's just rubbish I'm afraid.

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posted Jun 2, 2008

casson or cullen will be considered, cullens been their 3rd choice for 2 years now right up until this series so it's likely they'll give him a chance at some point, but it'll be interesting to see how they perform. Conveniently, symonds and clarke are both good spin bowlers, clarke i rate higher than panesar, so Australia are unlikely to suffer too much

England have 2 leg-spinners, Munday at Somerset and Rashid at Yorkshire, who in about 3 or 4 years will both be of near-international quality, but they have to be given time to develop.

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posted Jun 2, 2008

I didnt say "always" i said "frequently".

And there were times in which Macgill bowled on pitches that were not conducive to spin bowling - especially in the year when Warne was banned - yet he still took 53 wickets in 11 test matches in that year.

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posted Jun 2, 2008

How refreshing to see a sportsman retiring now he feels he cannot contribute to the team. Please please please read and learn Frank Lampard.

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posted Jun 2, 2008

Macgilla...keep smiling mate..another junction another train..thanks for being there when the Oz desperately needed a spinster.

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posted Jun 3, 2008

Guys, remember what made Warnie different was his incredible control, particularly for a leggie. Now having watched him wield his skills for the last decade plus & set the standard for leg-spinners we tend to forget that traditionally leg-spinners have always been expensive. Macgill during his career is nearer to his earlier practitioners in terms control. In his own words he always tried to have 5 good balls in an over (IE he expected at least one rubbish ball an over!) One reason hes quitting now is that he's got the proportion reversed. Don't let the pastich of recent memories of bad bowling over-ride the general standard that he exhibited throughout a long and successful career at both first-class & international level. Tangles

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posted Jun 4, 2008

"Guys, remember what made Warnie different was his incredible control, particularly for a leggie"

True.

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posted Jun 5, 2008

Full credit to McGill, I always prefered watching him to watching Warnie - maybe thats cos I'm english and anyone was better for us than Warne - but McGill must be missed and remembered as crickets greatest ever understudy.

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