MacGill denies booze forced his decision to retire from international cricket

Australian leg-spinner Stuart MacGill and the team management have reportedly agreed that his decision to retire from international cricket was not because he was drunk, but because of discipline-related matters and concerns over his recent sub-standard performances.

Sydney, June 2 : Australian leg-spinner Stuart MacGill and the team management have reportedly agreed that his decision to retire from international cricket was not because he was drunk, but because of discipline-related matters and concerns over his recent sub-standard performances.

MacGill announced his retirement only a day after turning up late to the ground during the second Test against the West Indies in Antigua.

He and coach Tim Nielsen will refute claims that he took the abrupt call to retire because he was intoxicated.

Former West Indian champion Viv Richards walked into the ground with MacGill and reported the leg spinner was "sheepish" but did not appear under the influence of alcohol.

"I walked in with him and I talked to him, he looked OK to me. He was a bit sheepish, and he knew he would be in trouble with the team. He knew he would get a slap on the wrist. But otherwise he looked OK," Fox Sports quoted him, as saying.

MacGill is expected to claim he simply slept in and will insist he was not under the influence of alcohol. It is understood he was out the night before, drinking with friends, however it is unclear what time he returned to his hotel room.

During his career, MacGill was never far from trouble and had a disciplinary history as long as his arm from abusing umpires, opposition batsmen and even former Australian coach John Buchanan.

But the 37-year-old insists there was nothing untoward in his retirement, saying he retired simply because he had lost the magic to trouble the world's best batsman.

It also appears he was rapidly losing the confidence of his Test team mates and there seems little doubt Test skipper Ricky Ponting and the leadership group were becoming increasing worried by his erratic bowling.

New South Wales left-arm spinner Beau Casson will be the immediate replacement for the third Test.

"I have worked way too hard for too long to sabotage my achievements by playing Test cricket for the wrong reasons. There is no way I will ever walk on to a cricket field unless I can guarantee that I can dismiss top order batsmen consistently. The prospect of letting myself and the team down is simply not an option," MacGill said.

ANI