C Bryden: Brian McMillan talks retirement (21 Sep 1997)

21 September 1997

Mac talks retirement as pressure mounts

by Colin Bryden

BRIAN McMillan admitted yesterday he had come close to retiring immediately from international cricket because of the disruptive effect it will have on his family life in the next year.

"It was very close," he said. "My family is very important to me and I realised that I would only be spending about 44 nights at home in the next year."

McMillan, 33, arguably the world's finest Test allrounder, discussed the issue with the team management and it was agreed he should be excused from the squad's three-day practice match in Durban. He went home to Cape Town to spend time with wife Denise and four-year-old son Joshua before joining the team which assembles in Johannesburg on Wednesday for a tour of Pakistan.

On Friday he telephoned United Cricket Board MD Ali Bacher to say he had thought things over and was committed to the national team at least until the 1999 World Cup. Dr Bacher said the UCB recognised the strain the next 18 months, which includes tours of Pakistan, Australia and England, will put on the families of team members and had agreed to contribute to the costs of flying wives and children to join players on tours.

He said: "A very strong case was motivated by Pat Symcox, who calculated the amount of time away a player will spend if he goes on every tour and plays in every international match in South Africa."

The UCB executive has devised a points scheme under which long-serving players will get financial assistance of up to R10 000 a tour.

Dr Bacher said McMillan and Allan Donald were two prime examples of players whose cricket performances were enhanced if their wives were with them.

McMillan said: "I thought seriously about my future but fortunately my wife persuaded me that I must give cricket my best effort over the next couple of years."

He said Denise would be unable to fly to Pakistan "but she and Joshua will join me in Australia at the end of the year." McMillan said he did not feel the presence of wives and children disrupted the team effort. "Definitely in my case I feel even more motivated to play well if my family are with me."

Dr Bacher said the UCB would not restrict the amount of time players were joined by families. "There are two issues. The first is that we recognise the strain that touring can put on relationships. The other is that in choosing professional cricket as their career, the players have to accept that it is going to be tough and sacrifices have to be made."

Source: The Sunday Times