Monday, June 2, 2008

Australia Leg-Spinner Stuart MacGill Announces Test Retirement

Australia leg-spinner Stuart MacGill has decided to retire from Test cricket after the second Test ends against West Indies in Antigua.

MacGill,37, announced his retirement during a rain hold-up at the start of the third day's play on Sunday.

The veteran leg-spinner's decision to quit Test cricket has opened up an avenue for uncapped Beau Casson, who is the only other specialist spinner on tour for Australia as the third Test starts in Barbados.

However, MacGill's departure could also bring back the great Shane Warne out of retirement as he is presently basking in the glory of his team Rajasthan Royals' IPL triumph.

Meanwhile, MacGill cited reasons for his sudden retirement.

"Over the past six months I have experienced enough highs and lows to fill a lifetime.

"My 200th Test wicket couldn't have been scripted any better. I will never forget the happiness I felt when my family welcomed me at the hotel that night, yet the very next week I was filled with the pain and disappointment of injury.

"Although I considered retirement at the time, I decided to prove to myself that I could rise again and trained privately harder than I have done in years," the leg-spinner, who always lived in the shadow of the great Warne, was quoted as saying to BBC Sport.

"Unfortunately now my time is up....as I said many times last summer, there is no way I will ever walk on to a cricket field unless I can guarantee that I can dismiss top order batsmen consistently.

"The prospect of letting myself and the team down is simply not an option. I have worked way too hard for too long to sabotage my achievements by playing Test cricket for the wrong reasons," he added.

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