MacGill keeps Blues waiting

Former Test legspinner Stuart MacGill is yet to commit to playing for NSW before next week’s season opener. The combative tweaker quit the Australian team during his torrid tour of the West Indies earlier this year.

That decision left him in contract limbo as his retirement severed his ties with Cricket Australia but came after Cricket NSW had already filled their roster for the new summer.

That dilemma aside, the nation’s fourth most successful Test spinner is still working out whether he wants to put his creaking 37-year-old body through more pain.

NSW coach Matthew Mott said he wasn’t sure of the prolific wicket-taker’s intentions.

“I have not heard from him for a while so your guess is as good as mine,” he said.

“I understand that Stuie was still up in the air about what his intentions are.

“We certainly have not put any pressure on him at all.

“He still has a couple of things to sort out like whether he still has the desire to play or not and all that sort of stuff.”

In regards to MacGill’s playing future, his agent Leo Karis said: “There is ongoing discussion but no commitment”.

Even if MacGill, who claimed 208 scalps at 29.02 in 44 Tests, rediscovered some of his competitive juices, he has probably now slipped down the pecking order behind Beau Casson.

Mott wouldn’t admit as much but the Blues would be keen to push the one-Test youngster ahead of a player who has quit the international stage.

“There is no doubt that Beau Casson is our No.1 spinner,” said Mott.

“With an eye to the future of Australian cricket we believe that Beau has a lot to offer at the next level.

“We want to give him as much of a chance to play first-class cricket as we possibly can.”

“State cricket’s duty is to try to produce players who play for Australia and that is what we intend to do.”

Mott said MacGill’s scenario hadn’t disrupted his side’s preparations before their one-day opener next Wednesday against Western Australia and Sheffield Shield clash with the Warriors starting Friday.

The reigning four-day champions fly to Perth on Monday.

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