By IANS
Melbourne : An inconclusive medical report on Stuart MacGill’s wrist and hand means the leg-spinner still has a chance to play in the Boxing Day Test against India.
The 36-year-old leg-spinner experienced nerve problems in his bowling arm during the Hobart Test against Sri Lanka last week and was unable to grip the ball properly.
MacGill, who visited a specialist Wednesday, found the results of tests on his hand were “inconclusive”. He will now have scans on Monday in the hope of resolving the issue, which has been discussed for long.
Meanwhile, Cricket Australia medical staff maintained there was no reason why MacGill would require surgery on his battered knee, which has bone-on-bone problems, reported the Herald Sun.
MaCgill, who has played 42 Tests, might also need to have scans on the knee but it is not clear whether he is willing to do so.
MacGill’s manager Leo Karis told media his client was keen to play for two more years, indicating the bowler is hopeful of clearing medical tests. “I think he really wants to keep going, not just this year, but for a couple of seasons,” Karis said.
But if the knee does not improve, MacGill may have to consider retirement.
Australian selectors want MacGill to play in a domestic match for New South Wales at the Gabba from Dec 14 to prove his fitness in order for him to be considered for the Boxing Day Test.
Karis said MacGill looked forward to finally determining the best way to solve his knee problems and stressed he had no intention of retiring. “Contrary to Mark Waugh’s views. No,” he said.
Waugh had said MacGill would retire if he did not play at the MCG against India.