MacGill dropped for Perth Test (24 November 1998 )
BRISBANE, Australia, Nov 24 (AFP) - Legspinner Stuart MacGill, who almost bowled Australia to victory in the rain-hit drawn first Ashes Test against England here Tuesday, has been dropped for the next Test in Perth
30-Nov-1899
24 November 1998
MacGill dropped for Perth Test
AFP
BRISBANE, Australia, Nov 24 (AFP) - Legspinner Stuart MacGill, who almost
bowled Australia to victory in the rain-hit drawn first Ashes Test against
England here Tuesday, has been dropped for the next Test in Perth.
MacGill, who took 51-3 as England were saved from defeat by a savage electrical storm, made way for Tasmanian paceman Colin Miller in the 12-man
team named after the Brisbane Test. An Australian Cricket Board spokesman said MacGill was left out because of
the likely fast Perth pitch and the prospect of going into the Test with four
pace bowlers.
Australian captain Mark Taylor said Miller would play in the Perth match, starting on Saturday, because of his greater bowling variety. Miller can
bowl medium pace and offspin. Taylor said it was thought that MacGill, who deputised for the recovering
Shane Warne, would be better off bowling in this week's Sheffield Shield match for his New South Wales state against Western Australia in Sydney, rather
than sitting around as 12th man in Perth.
Taylor said by playing the Shield match MacGill would keep in form for the third Ashes Test on the more spin-friendly Adelaide Oval pitch from December 11
to 15. Spin-wizard Warne is still bowling his way back to full fitness after major shoulder surgery.
Australia: Mark Taylor (captain), Michael Slater, Justin Langer, Mark Waugh, Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Ian Healy, Colin Miller, Damien Fleming, Michael
Kasprowicz, Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath.