Ecb Thwarts Macgill Plan
Sydney Morning Herald
Monday August 22, 2005
Northampton: Stuart MacGill was on the motorway to Somerset, believing badly needed match practice was at the end of the road, but within hours was turned around and sent back after the England & Wales Cricket Board foiled Australia's bid to release him to county cricket for a week.
The deal, which would have seen the reserve leg spinner play two one-dayers and a four-day county championship match, fell through after Somerset realised he was available for only a week rather than the minimum, three-week term of a county contract for overseas signings.MacGill will not play in the fourth Test at Trent Bridge, starting Thursday, but Australia were not prepared to release him from the squad altogether and deny themselves the option of playing him alongside Shane Warne in the final Test at The Oval. MacGill has played only two first-class games on this tour.
© 2005 Sydney Morning Herald
