Published: 30/07/2010 16:24:10 | Modified: 30/07/2010 16:31:36
Author: Paul Hiscock | All Contributors
Late-starter McGain making up for lost time
Bryce McGain made his Essex debut at the age of 38 years, 126 days but wasted little time in making his mark, returning 5 for 151 as Kent were bowled out for 420 in the County Championship match at Canterbury.
The Australian was brought over by the county to fill the leg-spinner's role after the prolific Danish Kaneria was named in the Pakistan Test squad, and the new recruit soon proved an adequate replacement.
At the age of 38, McGain could be considered a veteran although he is in fact a relative newcomer to professional cricket having decided to change his lifestyle from working in IT for a bank to playing competitive sport for a living three years ago.
That decision was vindicated when a string of successes for Victoria earned him a call-up for Australia in their Test series with South Africa, although he has only managed to win one cap.
However, he remains an effective performer in all forms of the game with his most recent success coming in match this year for his state side when he returned 4 for 70 in the second innings to provide a match-winning effort against Queensland in the Sheffield Shield final.
McGain, who had not played since that final in March, admitted that he was delighted to enjoy his first taste of English first-class cricket.
"It was a pleasure to get on to the field because I've been looking forward to this day for about a month now since I knew I was coming over but then had to wait for visas and all that sort of paperwork to be done," he said.
"It was nice to get that first wicket for the boys before going on to get the five-for. It was very satisfying because it's a good pitch for batters. It's slow and the batsman were able to rock on to the back foot as soon as the ball was half short and it was hard work for the bowlers.
"So I have to be satisfied with my effort and hopefully, there will be bigger and better things to come. I got a long bowl on the first day (30 overs) and that's fine because I want to get plenty of overs in.
"A lot of first-class cricketers at 35 have had the punishing workload of ten years or more cricket but I haven't had that and I feel good and able take on the role of a workhorse.
"I'm loving it over here and I'm delighted and grateful to Essex for giving me the opportunity to play county cricket. In return I genuinely want to play a big part for them and help them achieve as much as possible over the remainder of the season."
It is not McGain's first experience of English cricket, though. "I played a bit of league cricket in Bristol some time ago but this is my first taste of top-class cricket here and being centre-stage at Canterbury is very different," he added.
"They are a great bunch of blokes here at Essex, they are up and about with their cricket and it's a pleasure to play with them. We've got home games at Southend, Colchester and Chelmsford and I'm really looking forward to the experience of playing on those grounds."