The understudy grabs the limelight

Stuart MacGill acknowledges the crowd after his eight-wicket haul © Getty Images

Amid all the understandable brouhaha about Bangladesh's superb showing against Australia at Fatullah, one man's performance was rather overlooked. But being overshadowed is something that Stuart MacGill knows all about.

MacGill is Australia's permanent second-choice legspinner, reduced to patiently watching and waiting while Shane Warne takes centre stage. His inclusion in the side can only be guaranteed when either Warne is absent or the pitch is likely to turn sideways. The role of understudy is particularly hard on a man who would walk into almost any other international XI.

But he was given a rare chance in Bangladesh - possibly a sign of what Dean Jones described as Australia's "arrogant" approach to the game - and completely outshone Warne. MacGill took a career-best 8 for 108, including all five Bangladesh wickets to fall on the second day, while a tired and struggling Warne managed 0 for 112. MacGill bowled with confidence, Warne like a man who desperately needed to be anywhere other than on a cricket field.

Were it not for MacGill, then a crisis could have been something far worse, as Australia's other bowlers failed to make any significant impression. In the field Australia looked shoddy, but MacGill, as ever, snarled and fumed his way through his overs, being equally unforgiving on batsmen, team-mates, umpires and passing motorists. One thing that can never be questioned is his commitment to the cause.

He said - After Australia's top order collapsed on the second day against Bangladesh
"We are tired. Not only have we been in the field for a day and-a-half but I think since the Ashes started this is our 16th Test which has been a pretty long summer."

They said
"The Australians looked shoddy in the field this morning and only MacGill's persistence shortened their time out in the boiling conditions. Australia's dire situation meant MacGill's career-best figures were quickly forgotten after the fiery legspinner tried to wrestle them back into the contest." Bangladesh Independent

Did you know
MacGill's Test record is impressive - he came into this series with 182 wickets at 27.94 - and, as happened on this occasion, the presence of Warne in the side often encourages him to greater success. In Tests where the two have played together, MacGill has 79 wickets at 21.75, Warne 65 at 31.06.

What the future holds
Sadly, more of the same. As long as Warne continues, MacGill's opportunities will continue to be limited, and as he is only a year younger, it's not even a case of biding his time. What is certain is that when he does play, he won't let Australia down.