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India Today
16-07-2025
- India Today
Stuart MacGill breaks silence on life after cocaine case: Jobless, worried for my kids
Former Australian spinner Stuart MacGill has spoken about the toll his recent legal troubles have taken on his life, admitting he has struggled to find work and is deeply concerned about how his legal ordeal has affected his children. The 54-year-old, once known for his clever and sharp leg spin, says his life has changed drastically since the case came to May, MacGill was found guilty of supplying an indictable quantity of cocaine, though he was cleared of involvement in a large commercial drug then, he has remained isolated and unable to return to continued work. He described how the situation has affected his daily routine and mental health: "I don't open the curtains too much," he told the Howie Games podcast. "I am very lucky because depression has never been a big thing for me. I get anxious. I won't lie about that. I get very anxious." The veteran leg spinner, who has scalped 208 Test wickets for his nation, reflected on how he's trying to stay strong by leaning on coping methods from his playing days. "If anything particularly bothers me, I just don't think about it, I learned that through playing Test cricket," he Australian star cricketer admitted the hardest part has been seeing the impact on his family, especially his children. "My kids have had to put up with it. I can just turn the media off but it is very difficult for kids to turn social media off.""I don't care what people are saying about me, but I do care what was happening to the kids and I know it has been very difficult for them."While he has managed to stay involved with cricket through coaching, MacGill admits he's found it tough being mostly unemployed. "I'm doing my coaching but other than that I'm not really working much, which is a pain. I have a pretty active mind and trying to shut that off is hard work," he former New South Wales player added that he often feels lonely and has scaled back his social circle in recent years. "My network used to be a big part of who I was," he said. "I knew a lot of people and I have closed that right down since I have needed to manage my own environment a little bit more carefully.""People talk about the half-full half-empty situation - well, I've always said I'm neither of them, I'm completely empty," said MacGill about his mental struggles. "And the reason I say that is because if today is the worst day of your life, tomorrow is going to be slightly fuller."Despite everything, he remains quietly determined. MacGill is doing his best to move forward, day by day. While life may not look the same as it once did, he's holding onto small wins, staying close to the game that gave him respect and recognition, and trying to rebuild on his own terms. For now, he's focused on protecting his peace, supporting his kids, and hoping brighter days lie ahead.- Ends
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'I was feeding off him. I'm like a little parasite': Stuart MacGill on relationship with legendary Shane Warne
Former Australian cricketer has cleared the air about 's alleged role in limiting his Test career, while speaking on the Howie Games podcast. The 54-year-old, who recently avoided jail time over a drug deal case, credits Warne for actually helping elevate leg spin bowling and creating opportunities for players like himself. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now MacGill, who is working to rebuild his life after recent legal troubles, shared candid insights about his relationship with the late Shane Warne. He emphasised that far from being blocked by Warne, he actually benefited from Warne's groundbreaking success in leg spin bowling. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. 'Shane was so incredibly effective, he just didn't bowl bad balls — I did,' MacGill said on The Howie Games. 'He worked on trapping the batsmen in the crease. I worked on getting them to try and score from me. The former spinner recalled a recent lunch with Ian Chappell, where the cricket legend observed that their contrasting styles made them potentially compatible as a bowling pair. MacGill humorously described himself as "a little parasite" feeding off Warne's success. 'I had lunch with Ian Chappell recently and he said if ever there were two wrist spinners who could play together it was you two because you tried to do different things.'' MacGill went on to joke: 'I was feeding off him. I'm like a little parasite'. warne and macgill In his career spanning 44 Tests with 208 wickets, MacGill played alongside Warne only 16 times. However, he harbours no regrets about being in Warne's shadow. Writing for Code Sports after Warne's death at 52, MacGill expressed it was an "absolute pleasure" to play in the same era as the Spin King. MacGill and Warne played alongside one another 16 times during the former's career of 44 Tests and 208 wickets. Despite repeated questions of what if Warne hadn't taken centre stage, MacGill holds no grudges. 'Whether or not I was effective during my time in the Test team is irrelevant, in my opinion,' he said. 'What is most significant is that fact that the opportunity in the first place only came about because of Shane's effectiveness.'
News.com.au
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Stuart MacGill spills beans on Shane Warne myth as cricketer breaks silence
Stuart MacGill has debunked the theory Shane Warne blocked him from having a full Test career. In a tell-all interview on the Howie Games podcast, MacGill has broken his silence after his life fell apart following a very public fall from grace. MacGill in May walked free from court after he was spared jail over his role in facilitating a $330,000 drug deal. Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. The 54-year-old has now shared the highs and lows of his rollercoaster career as he attempts to rebuild his once high-flying life. One of his most note-worthy admissions surrounds his relationship with Spin King Warne. He told host Mark Howard his own talents were only recognised because Warne put leg spin bowling on the map after decades of fast-bowling dominance. 'Shane was so incredibly effective, he just didn't bowl bad balls — I did,' MacGill said on The Howie Games. 'He worked on trapping the batsmen in the crease. I worked on getting them to try and score from me. 'I had lunch with Ian Chappell recently and he said if ever there were two wrist spinners who could play together it was you two because you tried to do different things.'' MacGill went on to joke: 'I was feeding off him. I'm like a little parasite'. MacGill had previously opened up about his relationship with Warne in an emotional column for Code Sports where he honoured his former teammate following his death at the age of 52. MacGill wrote it had been an 'absolute pleasure' to live his own career in Warne's shadow. One of his few regrets is that he was only able to play alongside Warne 16 times during his career of 44 Tests and 208 wickets. He holds no grudges or even second thoughts about constantly being asked what he believes his career could have been if not for Warne taking centre stage. 'Whether or not I was effective during my time in the Test team is irrelevant, in my opinion,' he said. 'What is most significant is that fact that the opportunity in the first place only came about because of Shane's effectiveness.' MacGill re-building life after drug deal According to NSW Police, MacGill was allegedly abducted and held at gun point when a drug deal went south. MacGill was earlier this year found guilty by a jury of helping to set up, and being present at, a meeting between his partner's brother and a street-level drug dealer underneath his Neutral Bay restaurant in April 2021. MacGill had claimed he simply introduced the drug dealer, who can only be known as Person A, and his brother-in-law and played no part in a later drug deal. However, that version of events was rejected by the jury during his eight-day trial. Judge Nicole Noman sentenced MacGill to a one-year-and-10-month intensive corrections order – to be served in the community – and ordered him to perform 495 hours of community service. MacGill was in March found guilty by a jury of one count of taking part in the supply of a prohibited drug. He was found not guilty of the more serious charge of taking part in the supply of a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug. Noman said in sentencing: 'The offender's colossal lapse of judgment has been causative of a very public fall from grace'. Speaking on the podcast, MacGill admits he hit rock bottom and has days where he 'doesn't want to open the curtains'. 'If you hit rock bottom there is sunshine ahead,' MacGill said. 'If anything particularly bothers me I just don't think about it. I learned that through playing Test cricket. 'If you have a bad day don't buy a paper. If you have a good day buy every paper in the stand.''
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Time of India
'I don't care what people are saying about me...': Stuart MacGill admits to getting anxiety in first interview after cocaine case
File photo of Stuart MacGill. Former Australian Test cricketer Stuart MacGill , in his first interview since being convicted in a cocaine case, revealed his struggles with anxiety, employment difficulties, and concerns about his children's mental wellbeing. The 54-year-old leg-spinner, who took 208 wickets in 44 Tests for Australia, was convicted for facilitating a cocaine deal and is now serving a community sentence. MacGill was involved in arranging a $330,000 exchange for a kilogram of cocaine, setting up a meeting under his restaurant on Sydney's north shore between his partner's brother and a dealer. While he denied knowledge of the deal taking place, he admitted to regularly purchasing cocaine from the dealer for personal use. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! "I don't care what people are saying about me, but I do care what was happening to the kids and I know it has been very difficult for them," MacGill shared during his appearance on the Howie Games podcast. "I am very lucky because depression has never been a big thing for me. I get anxious. I won't lie about that. I get very anxious. People talk about the half-full half-empty situation - well, I've always said I'm neither of them, I'm completely empty. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You To Read in 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo And the reason I say that is because if today is the worst day of your life, tomorrow is going to be slightly fuller." My kids have had to put up with it. I can just turn the media off but it is very difficult for kids to turn social media off. Stuart MacGill The former cricketer expressed particular concern about his children's exposure to social media during his legal troubles. "My kids have had to put up with it. I can just turn the media off but it is very difficult for kids to turn social media off." MacGill is currently facing challenges in finding regular employment, though he has secured some work as a cricket coach. "I'm doing my coaching but other than that I'm not really working much which is a pain because I have a pretty active mind and trying to shut that off is hard work," he explained. He discussed his approach to managing difficult situations, drawing from his cricket experience. "If you hit rock bottom there is sunshine ahead," MacGill said. "If anything particularly bothers me, I just don't think about it. I learned that through playing Test cricket. If you have a bad day, don't buy a paper. If you have a good day, buy every paper in the stand." The former Test player also spoke about changes in his social life following recent events. "Lots of TV. But I don't mind my own company, which is a good thing. I get lonely sometimes, but I think that's happened to a lot of people since Covid. My network used to be a big part of who I was. I knew a lot of people and I have closed that right down since I have needed to manage my own environment a little bit more carefully." Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Indian Express
16-07-2025
- Indian Express
Stuart MacGill breaks silence after cocaine case: ‘Don't care what people are saying about me, but I do care about what's happening to my kids'
In his first interview after his conviction in the drugs case, former Australian legspinner Stuart MacGill has said that he gets 'very anxious' and has been struggling to get work and is worried about the mental impact on his kids. ''I don't care what people are saying about me, but I do care what was happening to the kids and I know it has been very difficult for them,' MacGill told the Howie Games podcast. MacGill had to serve a community sentence after being convicted for a cocaine deal. The 54-year-old McGill had been accused of facilitating a cocaine deal between his partner's brother and a dealer. MacGill was the link for a $330,000 exchange for a kilogram of cocaine and had arranged for a meeting under his restaurant on Sydney's north shore. However, the former Test leg-spinner had denied knowing that a deal would take place and admitted that he regularly purchased half a gram of cocaine for $200 from the dealer. 'I am very lucky because depression has never been a big thing for me. 'I get anxious. I won't lie about that. I get very anxious. People talk about the half-full half-empty situation – well, I've always said I'm neither of them, I'm completely empty. And the reason I say that is because if today is the worst day of your life, tomorrow is going to be slightly fuller.' MacGill, who took 208 from 44 Tests for Australia, said he is leaning on the skills learnt from playing cricket to try get his life back on track. 'If you hit rock bottom there is sunshine ahead,' MacGill said. If anything particularly bothers me, I just don't think about it. I learned that through playing Test cricket. If you have a bad day, don't buy a paper. If you have a good day, buy every paper in the stand.' He worries about the mental impact of the legal troubles on his children. 'My kids have had to put up with it. I can just turn the media off but… it is very difficult for kids to turn social media off.' MacGill also spoke about the difficulties in finding a regular job, though he has got some work as a cricket coach. 'I'm doing my coaching but other than that I'm not really working much which is a pain because I have a pretty active mind and trying to shut that off is hard work,' he said. 'Lots of TV. But I don't mind my own company, which is a good thing. I get lonely sometimes, but I think that's happened to a lot of people since Covid…My network used to be a big part of who I was. I knew a lot of people and I have closed that right down since I have needed to manage my own environment a little bit more carefully.'
