Brian McMillan was the South African team's big brother, in the most positive sense. Whether they needed a wicket, some steely batting or a verbal missile, the job invariably fell to him. Indeed, Kepler Wessels's first observation as he surveyed the wreckage of South Africa's return to the Test arena after an epic match at Bridgetown in 1991-92, was, "We needed Big Mac," who was injured before the tour. McMillan obtained unsettling bounce with his thudding medium-pace and, while he seldom used the power locked in his hulking frame, a sound defensive technique and cool head served him well and earned him occasional promotion to the top order. He was an astonishingly agile slip fielder for a man of his bulk, and he had the highest percentage of catches per Test in South Africa's history. He was rated by many as the best allrounder in the world in the mid-1990s.
Neil Manthorp