Legspinner fit and focused on West Indies

Fresh MacGill in happy place

Peter English

May 7, 2008

	Stuart MacGill is looking to regain a strong grip on his Test place © Getty Images

Over the next two months Australia will know whether Stuart MacGill has doused the doubts over the status of Australia's No. 1 slow bowler. MacGill is due to step back into international action in the West Indies after a summer disrupted by injury and questions over his fitness.

However, he returned from surgery in much better shape to finish the domestic season with New South Wales, who won the Pura Cup, and looks in good condition at Australia's pre-tour camp in Brisbane. MacGill is now 37 and if his third Caribbean adventure does not work out the selectors will be forced to look to the next generation.

"I'm in a pretty good frame of mind," MacGill said at the Centre of Excellence. "The really good thing about being an older bowler is that you probably don't have to do as much as some of the young guys to get back into the swing of things."

Two years ago when MacGill was in Queensland he was injured during John Buchanan's boot camp. The knee problem suffered on one of the outdoor exercises caused him considerable discomfort and he was much happier with the traditional methods of Buchanan's replacement Tim Nielsen.

"The good news is the current coaching staff has a very clear idea of what constitutes preparation for a cricket series and it corresponds with mine, which is very good," he said. MacGill's views on Buchanan have not softened much since 2006.

MacGill has toured the West Indies twice and on his first trip in 1999 he was responsible for squeezing Shane Warne out of the Test side for the final game. On his visit in 2003 he picked up 20 wickets and has a total of 32 victims in eight games there.

"West Indies is a hard place to tour," he said. "The advantage I've got this time is that the West Indies tour generally falls at the end of a pretty hard summer - and I didn't have one. I haven't played a Test since November and I played two first-class games in February and March. At least I'll be fresh."

After passing 200 Test wickets in the opening match against Sri Lanka in November, MacGill struggled in the next game in Hobart when his bowling arm became numb. Following a chaotic period in which his spot was debated, MacGill underwent successful carpal tunnel surgery on his right wrist and missed the India campaign. The rehabilitation also included a detailed fitness regime as he fought to regain his spot.

"I really do feel as though it's a good thing that I had to have surgery," he said. "I'd hate to have experienced the problems that I had and then be told that there was nothing wrong with me."

MacGill's fortunes turned around last month when he was picked in the 15-man squad, and he was also rewarded for his wine programme Uncorked, which won a pay television prize as the best lifestyle show. Beau Casson, the left-arm wrist-spinner from New South Wales, is also on the trip, but his chances of playing are limited even if MacGill struggles. Australia's current strength is in fast bowling and Andrew Symonds and Michael Clarke are capable part-timers.

Peter English is the Australasia editor of Cricinfo

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