Stuart MacGill said Saturday he was prepared to play on for New South Wales depending on fitness reports after retiring from international cricket. MacGill, 37, who returned home Saturday from Australia's tour to the West Indies, said he believed he had another couple of years of cricket left to offer. But spin bowling coach Terry Jenner said this week that MacGill should no longer play for NSW.
Leg spinner MacGill, who announced his retirement from international cricket last weekend during the second Test against the West Indies, indicated he still wanted to play on provided he received positive fitness reports. MacGill, who finished with 208 Test wickets at an average of 29.02, was troubled by knee and wrist injuries last southern summer, with his knees continuing to be the major fitness issue.
"Once the ball gets past me it takes me slightly longer than the Queen Mary to turn around, so that's not a good thing for a professional athlete," MacGill told reporters. "I guess the next couple of months will be pretty much finding out whether or not I can continue to keep playing at all."
MacGill said he will meet with NSW physio Pat Farhart and Cricket Australia medical staff. "There's certainly no motivation issues, I'm dying to play," he said. "I'd like to play Test cricket but unfortunately the travel involved with Test cricket and the rigorous schedule is just prohibitive." Former Test spinner Jenner, who was Shane Warne's spin mentor, has questioned why MacGill would keep playing for NSW and said he should move on.