Bangladesh hire Stuart MacGill as spin coach

Former Australia spinner Stuart MacGill has been confirmed as the spin coach for Bangladesh national team, subject to the former leg spinner obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC). MacGill has no prior coaching experience but has mentored a number of young spinners in Australia.

MacGill given a temporary contract

BCB has hired him for a period of three months and will reassess his performance at the end of this period. They hope that the 46-year old is initiated in the set up before Australia arrives in Bangladesh to play a 2-Test series. Spin is spoken to be the major hurdle ahead of the Steve Smith-led side. Earlier, Bangladesh had used spin as a weapon against England to draw the 2-match series 1-1 and the Tigers hope to repeat it again against the Australians. MacGill has replaced former Sri Lanka spinner Ruwan Kalpage, who was sacked by the BCB after a two-year stint.

BCB operation head Akram Khan wasn’t sure if MacGill would be able to join the team before the Australia series which kicks off on August 27 in Dhaka. He, however, said that they would be keen to have him in the fold even if he can’t make it for the Australia series.

“We have confirmed MacGill,” Akram told Cricbuzz, on Wednesday (August 9), when he was asked about the development regarding MacGill’s appointment. “We are waiting for him to get his NOC from CA.

“Even if we don’t get him before the series against Australia we are sure we will have him in our dressing as soon as he obtains the required documents to work here.”

MacGill was always overshadowed by Warne

MacGill was always an understudy to spin wizard Shane Warne during his playing career. He, on occasions, teamed up with Warne to form a great spin combination for Australia. In a career that spanned for a decade, MacGill went on to win 44 Test caps for Australia and captured 208 wickets at 29.02. He claimed 12 five-wicket hauls but had the tendency of bowling loose balls on a regular basis as his economy rate of 3.22 indicates.

The Western Australian played in 3 ODIs as well picking 6 sticks. MacGill has been looked at a long term option by Bangladesh if he is willing to take up responsibility.