Stuart MacGill has always been known for his free-thinking, outspoken ways. But his ill-advised comments about the shape of the Australian pace bowling attack in India illustrated the problem of former players – in any sport – offering public opinions based on precious little relevant knowledge.
In his job on morning radio, MacGill is required to stir things up a little.
As a means of promoting the Austereo show, his comments are often picked up by the network and emailed around the country to interested journalists.
On Tuesday morning his targets were twofold – young Australian fast bowler Peter George and the national selectors.
With his usual enthusiasm, MacGill spoke of how George should not be making his Test debut in India at present, and how the selectors were damaging a young bowler by exposing him to the brilliance of Sachin Tendulkar on a flat pitch.
However he then ventured into bizarre territory by trying to parallel George with another South Australian, the slingshot Twenty20 specialist Shaun Tait.
Now MacGill has played Test cricket, and knows plenty about legspin bowling.
But his suggestions that George was not ready for Tests, and that he was in any way similar to Tait, betrayed a level of understanding akin to that of an American.
George is in India, and playing a Test, because there is no-one else available.
Doug Bollinger, Peter Siddle and Ryan Harris are among the more senior bowlers either injured or making their returns from injury.
Australia’s only other option for this match was left-armer Mitchell Starc, who is three years younger than George and has played only 10 first-class matches against George’s 19.
MacGill suggested that Stuart Clark, 35, should be on tour, but that ignored the fact that the Australian team has already turned towards youth.
Clark’s record in India – two wickets at 80.5 in two Tests – is poor anyway.
MacGill spoke of George as though the bowler did not have a hope.
But a strange thing happened in the afternoon following his comments: George gained reverse swing, and dismissed Tendulkar on the way to debut figures of 2-48 from 21 overs.
It was a decent effort from the man the selectors picked, as opposed to the one MacGill so blithely perceived.
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