Out of the Park

Craig McMillan has been one of New Zealand’s most controversial sports figures over the past decade. While his career has had its share of highlights, it has also been punctuated with controversy. He found himself on the outer after the 2003 World Cup but worked his way back into New Zealand’s ODI side just in time to earn selection for the 2007 tournament in the Caribbean. It was quite a shift after he was dumped at the end of 2005 and began looking for other employment opportunities – including as a salesman. But he regained his limited-overs place for the home series against Sri Lanka in December 2006 and strong performances at the CB Series in Australia, followed by a New Zealand record 67-ball ODI century in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, ensured his ticket to the World Cup. McMillan, a player who had been gifted international selection from the age of 21, began his career productively and in March 2001 he took a world record 26 runs off one Younis Khan over in a Test against Pakistan at Hamilton. His destructive batting perhaps promised more than he delivered, however, and he was forced to test his resolve when overlooked for a tour of Sri Lanka in 2003. McMillan returned with 83 not out and an unbeaten century in India in 2003-04 to cement his Test spot but 18 months later lost it again and was views as purely a limited-overs option. He was New Zealand’s leading run-scorer at the ICC World Twenty20. It was to be his final international tournament, as he announced his retirement at the age of 31 in October 2007.