Sending George to make debut in India is like ‘not giving him a chance’: McGill
October 12th, 2010 - 1:18 pm ICT by ANISydney, Oct 12 (ANI): Expressing his displeasure at the way the Australian team is picked, former leg-spinner Stuart MacGill has said that sending young paceman Peter George to India to make his Test debut is like “not giving him a chance”.
George received his baggy green cap in Bangalore on Saturday after Doug Bollinger’s withdrawal because of a muscle strain.
MacGill said George, who took 0-38 from 15 overs on Monday’s third day of the second Test, won’t gain any sort of confidence from toiling away on Indian pitches ahead of the Ashes series in Australia.
Former pacer Stuart Clark, who was dumped in April from Australia’s list of 25 contracted players, is a much better bet at Test level than 23-year-old George, The Sydney Morning Herald quoted MacGill, as saying.
Clarke is captaining NSW this summer, playing his first Shield game of the season in Adelaide against South Australia this week.
“Peter George has been selected to play his first Test match … he looks a hell of a lot like Shaun Tait, Peter George,” MacGill said.
“When you’re that big bowling in the 120s with a slingy action on an Indian pitch you’re going to have a hard day. I am all about giving these young bowlers a chance. In my opinion picking Peter George in India on a pitch like that is not giving him a chance.
“He’s going to come back from Australia against England having played one Test and getting belted, which is not good for his confidence and it’s not giving him a chance,” McGill said.
“At the moment in Australia, we have Peter Siddle playing state cricket. He’s coming back from injury, not doing too well. We’ve got Stuart Clark playing. If Stuart Clark is not a better bowler that Peter George then I’m … Martha,” he added. (ANI)
- Oz media blasts MacGill for targeting George, selectors - Oct 13, 2010
- MacGill returns to cricket with Big Bash League - Dec 02, 2011
- Big Bash launch pales in comparison with IPL - Dec 17, 2011
- Stuart Macgill blasts Hilditch's Ashes selection - Dec 11, 2010
- MacGill wants to play in IPL - Dec 26, 2011
- MacGill favours Hauritz, says Beer clearly not the best spinner - Jan 06, 2011
- North, not Hauritz should be Australia's first-choice spinner: MacGill - Nov 07, 2010
- Johnson defends selection of debutant Peter George for Bangalore Test - Oct 13, 2010
- Lyon becomes international off-spinner from a groundsman - Jul 26, 2011
- Oz selector Hilditch indicates Clark will be dropped for Ashes decider - Aug 12, 2009
- Clarke expects Indian fightback in Sydney - Dec 29, 2011
- Smith not 'nervous' over 'baggy green' debut at Lord's Test against Pakistan - Jul 09, 2010
- Beer's selection proves Hilditch has 'officially lost the plot': MacGill - Dec 11, 2010
- Much bragged about powers of the baggy green down to only Warne, McGrath: Hussain - Nov 30, 2010
- WC 2011: Siddle the ideal choice to replace injured Bollinger, says Clark - Mar 05, 2011
Tags: baggy green cap, bollinger, bowlers, displeasure, first test, indian pitch, indian pitches, muscle strain, paceman, pacer, second test, shaun tait, siddle, south australia, stuart macgill, sydney morning herald, test debut, test level, test match, third day