Canterbury and New Zealand cricket legend Craig McMillan has today confirmed his availability for the Canterbury Wizards Twenty20 campaign during the 2009-10 summer of cricket.
McMillan boasts some impressive statistics from his short Twenty20 career in New Zealand. He played in a total of 28 matches for Canterbury and New Zealand scoring 688 runs at a strike rate in excess of 150, with a high score of 65 not out. Coupling a record like this with the talents of Wizards Peter Fulton, Shanan Stewart and Johann Myburgh the Canterbury line up is looking very strong.
Canterbury Cricket CEO, Lee Germon, confirmed McMillan’s availability saying “We are extremely pleased to announce that Craig will be a part of the Wizards Twenty20 side this season. It is a real coup to have someone of his calibre and experience a part of the team. Craig exhibits all the attributes that are associated with successful Canterbury athletes including exceptional talent and a passion for winning while wearing the red and black colours”.
In addition to McMillan taking part in the playing side he will also take on the role of a specialist batting coach, assisting Head Coach Bob Carter.
“I am really looking forward to playing Twenty20 for Canterbury, it is going to be great to get out on the pitch in the domestic game again. I am also really looking forward to the challenge of being involved in the coaching side of things as a specialist batting coach and being able to pass on the things I have learnt throughout the years.” said McMillan of his announcement.
Debuting for Canterbury during the 1994/95 season when he was 18, McMillan soon made his mark and was called up for national selection just three years later to take on Sri Lanka at home. He still holds many national cricketing records including taking 26 runs in one over off the bowling of Younis Kahn, the test record 5th wicket partnership with Nathan Astle of 222 and the fastest century made by a New Zealand player- 117 from 96 balls.
