There’s something about MacGill

Christopher O’Leary had only recently got what Stuart MacGill is about, and believes there is a lot to love about Australia’s other spinner.

As usual Christmas Eve television provided a glut of C-grade holiday flicks and a Chrisco advertisement on the hour, though Aunty came through with some cinematic salvation.

ABC screened a repeat of their movies special My Favourite Film, which featured an array of panellists who came to talk movies and saved me from the dreaded thought of forcing myself to read a book.

Amongst the actors and comedians to my surprise sat Stuart MacGill.

Instantly I thought why was a cricketer, normally confined to the realm of Khe Sahn and beer-soaked dressing rooms, allowed to profess his love for Star Wars and The Shawshank Redemption?

But as MacGill waxed lyrical about exhausting movies supplies from hotels and his love for Bollywood blockbusters, it dawned upon me Australia’s second spinner is a mysterious, intriguing and likable figure.

Throughout his career MacGill has suffered (and often accidentally aided) the tag of being arrogant, a wine buff, and therefore a cultured black sheep amongst Australia’s Oakley-loving brigade (of course that is a lot of stereotypes for just one paragraph).

What matters of course is that MacGill is an impact bowler.

MacGill has often climbed the highest peaks to rise above Mr. Warne with ten-wicket hauls. Yet he has unfairly resided in the first class ranks because such is the Victorian’s greatness, and he could often be expensive if not in form.

But give him the floor and MacGill will present himself as an articulate and interesting character. Before yesterday I had never really heard much about `Magillia’ other than the grunts he makes during overs, but he interacted with comedians the quality of Judith Lucy and Chris Taylor with candor and quick wit.

Of course a person can be a mute and still be immortalised if they can work magic with the ball, but it helps if the public is on their side.

As he has racked up more home Tests this season MacGill subsequently has taken up more columns in sports pages across the nation.

His confidence within himself is well documented, yet that spirit which aims for big hauls is borne not from unqualified arrogance but an unquenchable appetite.

He feeds on wickets, and that crying hunger provides some extra turn whenever he runs into bowl.

He revels when he gets hit for six against the likes of Lara and Kallis but he lives for the next ball, which he will turn like a tornado to bring them unstuck.

He has cut out those careless bowling spells so often seen a test after a successful Sydney campaign, and also has begun to work on being more than just a pushover with the bat.

MacGill’s advanced verbosity adds fuel to the elitist tag but it also exposes him, like Warne, as a thoughtful cricketer and a cool head in a crisis.

Most importantly MacGill consistently gets big hauls for his team, and claiming 20 wickets wins Test matches.

While Sports Australia’s Joel Arnott recently wrote that finding an all-rounder is not the be all and end all, selectors may be on the right track if a medium paced bowler/batsmen can free up space for MacGill.

Having said that Shane Watson and Andrew Symonds need to win their spot on merit and not just on the Test squad’s make up.

Because all the New South Welshman needs is time in the middle, and with the Ashes on the way an established spin duo that is unrivalled will trip up England’s footwork.

While going on about spin, the need for three fast bowlers in the side is inescapable. Glenn McGrath will bounce back, and Brett Lee is a lion, but who has been quietly impressive is Nathan Bracken. He has proved this summer that he is not a short-term solution for the number of Australia’s injured pace men, as his angled deliveries armed with tennis ball bounce have been deceptive but consistent.

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