Does anyone remember: Craig McMillan flapping arms?

[cats2rise]

I was in Grade 5 or 6 I think, so was around 1999/2000 when New Zealand toured Australia. Was towards the end of a match (cant remember if it was a one dayer or test) and Craig McMillan (I am 90% sure :confused:) was bowling and as he was running in, he flapped his arms like a bird to try and put off the bowler?

Does anyone remember that, and does anyone have a link any footage or a picture? I know it happened and am trying to find it to show a friend because I did it in the nets last week and he burst out laughing but doesn't believe it happened in international cricket.

[Optimax]

I dont remember McMillian doing it

But Gillespie did once during his run up spread his arms like a bird before entering his bowling action.

[cats2rise]

I remember that as well, and if I remember correctly Gillespie was batting or something when McMillan did it.

[Johnson#26]

Gillespie vs McMillan, at the WACA, Third Test 2001/2002 (end of 2001), just before the South African Series.

I think.

That was the match where we needed 400 odd to win on the fifth day, and nearly got there with Gilly and Steve Waugh doing well, before Gilly was runout off a Vettori deflection. Same Test where Warney scored 99!

[aNty]

I remember when he had that weird stance, when batting he would start off side on then change his stance when the bowler ran in.

[MC Bad Genius]

I remember when he had that weird stance, when batting he would start off side on then change his stance when the bowler ran in.

He certainly was a unique cricketer.

[darcytiger]

A bloke in my team copied him the week later and got a stern talking to by the umpire. was pretty funny seeing the 12 year old 'monkey see - monkey do'

[Tex_21]

That was the match where we needed 400 odd to win on the fifth day, and nearly got there with Gilly and Steve Waugh doing well, before Gilly was runout off a Vettori deflection. Same Test where Warney scored 99!
Not quite. Gilly was 80-odd not out at the end, and it was Steve Waugh that was run out.

http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63955.html

[Johnson#26]

Good call Garry. ;)

[Adrian Shelton]

McMillian had a go, and geez that annoyed the Aussies

[damochandler]

i dont remember him doing it. i do remember him smashing one of the best tons i have ever seen against us.

shoaib did it a few times

[cats2rise]

Gillespie vs McMillan, at the WACA, Third Test 2001/2002 (end of 2001), just before the South African Series.

I think.

That was the match where we needed 400 odd to win on the fifth day, and nearly got there with Gilly and Steve Waugh doing well, before Gilly was runout off a Vettori deflection. Same Test where Warney scored 99!

Happen to know where I could get any footage of it at all?

[TorresIsGod]

i dont remember him doing it. i do remember him smashing one of the best tons i have ever seen against us.

shoaib did it a few times

I think you are thinking of Shoaib's 'airplane' celebration after taking a wicket.

McMillan did the 'wing flap' or 'arm flap' as he was running into bowl.

[YOTC]

Gillespie was definitely the one that did it. Day 2 at the WACA. After day 1 the kiwis were about 7/280 after a big partnership early in the innings (2nd wicket?? 200 runs??). Australia had trouble getting out Parore and Astle on day 2 and they put on 200 runs, Australia was trying anything to take a wicket. Dizzy did the seagull and Warne did something but i forget that one.

4 centuries in the innings and at least one 200 run partnership.

[TorresIsGod]

4 centuries and no-one else got into double figures

[Johnson#26]

Gillespie was definitely the one that did it. Day 2 at the WACA. After day 1 the kiwis were about 7/280 after a big partnership early in the innings (2nd wicket?? 200 runs??). Australia had trouble getting out Parore and Astle on day 2 and they put on 200 runs, Australia was trying anything to take a wicket. Dizzy did the seagull and Warne did something but i forget that one.

4 centuries in the innings and at least one 200 run partnership.

That's right. We were in early strife, Lou Vincent scored a ton on debut. Remember when Astle/Parore were at the crease, we went to the shops (hot as that day in Melb, so humid and overcast), but came back to find the same pair at the crease.

They stonewalled McGrath that series. Big time. Left him alone outside off stump. He got Matthew Bell early on every time, but then they'd nullify him.

Shane Bond debuted the Test prior at Bellerive.

I loved that summer, the second summer I followed cricket.

Happen to know where I could get any footage of it at all?

Been looking for ages for footage from that summer. No luck so far. YT has some of Lee's nutjob on Allan Donald at the WACA in the final ODI we played for the summer.

[OzBomber]

Not quite. Gilly was 80-odd not out at the end, and it was Steve Waugh that was run out.

http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63955.html
"When some big Kiwi prick gets a four off a snick, thats Parore"

[Cotchin 9]

I loved that summer, the second summer I followed cricket.



Damn straight, was awesome.

VB Series was good aswell. Have some footage of that on DVD, Aus Vs NZ @ MCG, when Bevan the master got us home with a magnificent hundred after we were in the shit at 6/82. http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/65624.html

Wasn't Parore a **** of a player?

[OzBomber]

Damn straight, was awesome.

VB Series was good aswell. Have some footage of that on DVD, Aus Vs NZ @ MCG, when Bevan the master got us home with a magnificent hundred after we were in the shit at 6/82. http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/65624.html

Wasn't Parore a **** of a player?
6 of the best. Love the highlights on there. Binga 5/30 against England was awesome. I remember watching it hoping he'd get a 6th wicket and then Gilly ran him out I was so dissapointed that he didn't get his best figures.

Edit: on the 01/02 VB series. Just looked at some of the scorecards and NZ and SA go 30,000 to the first final at the SCG. Since when have Aussies been interested in watching neutrals play? There aren't that many Kiwis and Saffers here are there?

[Cotchin 9]

6 of the best. Love the highlights on there. Binga 5/30 against England was awesome. I remember watching it hoping he'd get a 6th wicket and then Gilly ran him out I was so dissapointed that he didn't get his best figures.

Mark Waugh's 173 at the MCG was a quality knock as was Gilly's.

[OzBomber]

Mark Waugh's 173 at the MCG was a quality knock as was Gilly's.
Which one? The 130 odd that's on the DVD against Sri Lanka at the SCG or his 172 against Zimbabwe at Hobart?

[cats2rise]

Gillespie was definitely the one that did it. Day 2 at the WACA. After day 1 the kiwis were about 7/280 after a big partnership early in the innings (2nd wicket?? 200 runs??). Australia had trouble getting out Parore and Astle on day 2 and they put on 200 runs, Australia was trying anything to take a wicket. Dizzy did the seagull and Warne did something but i forget that one.

4 centuries in the innings and at least one 200 run partnership.

Well fair enough, I remember Gillespie doing it, but I do remember McMillan did it as well (must have been later on in the innings, or seperate test in the series?) though, and did it for most of his run up, and was alot funnier.

I remember at school in Grade 6 we talked about whose was better - Gillespie or McMillan.

[YOTC]

McMillan might have done it but i don't remember it. (he probably did if you remember like you say you did)

I don't forget much and things like that normally stick well in my head.

Dizzys was the best because it was purely original, McMillans would have been teh lame copy of the original.

[Johnson#26]

Which one? The 130 odd that's on the DVD against Sri Lanka at the SCG or his 172 against Zimbabwe at Hobart?

Probs the 154 vs SL, in 98/99.

That night when Bevan scored that ton was absurdly good. Remember it so well.

[redragger]

McMillan might have done it but i don't remember it. (he probably did if you remember like you say you did)

I don't forget much and things like that normally stick well in my head.

Dizzys was the best because it was purely original, McMillans would have been teh lame copy of the original.

I'm pretty good for remembering these things and from memory, Gillespie was doing stupid things running in all summer. Not wing flaps but wing glides, trumpet playing on his nose etc... Anyhow, I believe the McMillan incident occurred as such. Aussies 7 down in the Perth Test with McMillan bowling the final over to Gillespie. With 3 balls to go (hence McMillan needing a hat-trick to win the game) captain Fleming walked down from slip to say something to McMillan with a grin on his face. McMillan subsequently runs in doing the aforementioned 'wing flap'. Once ball was bowled most of the players started laughing.

On Adam Parore, they say he was the best sledger in world cricket, bar none. His sledge to Mark Waugh is legendary...

Waugh standing at second slip, the new player (Parore) comes to the crease playing & missing the first ball. Mark: "Oh, I remember you from a couple years ago in Australia. You were **** then, you're ******* useless now."
Parore (turning around): "Yeah, that's me. And when I was there you were going
out with that old, ugly ****. And now I hear you've married her, you dumb ****!"

[cats2rise]

I'm pretty good for remembering these things and from memory, Gillespie was doing stupid things running in all summer. Not wing flaps but wing glides, trumpet playing on his nose etc... Anyhow, I believe the McMillan incident occurred as such. Aussies 7 down in the Perth Test with McMillan bowling the final over to Gillespie. With 3 balls to go (hence McMillan needing a hat-trick to win the game) captain Fleming walked down from slip to say something to McMillan with a grin on his face. McMillan subsequently runs in doing the aforementioned 'wing flap'. Once ball was bowled most of the players started laughing.


Bingo!! I had forgotten about needing the hattrick, but as soon as you mentioned it I remembered... The memory just needed a bit of a warm up, thanks for that!

I remember Gillespie did a few wing glides that lasted a few steps, but McMillan flapped his arms for half his run up.

No footage though, ah well, but at least I know it happened and I'm not crazy :p. Thanks guys.

[Cooldude]

I just remembered McMillan's stance against Warne that summer... it was literally taking the piss, but he got the last laugh in the end, smashing Warnie a few times

[happy_eagle]

After reading this thread, I've decided to bring back the flapping arms, for my game this weekend
See if anyone remembers

[roostersgal4eva]

it was mainly friendly banter and both players had a bit of fun with it :D

[Ill Chicken]

I thought McMillan did it to parody Gillespies wing flap in the India test the previous year where Dravid/Laxman turned the series.

On another note from that India series recently saw that Matt Hayden's FB fan page has the Adam & Will - Sorry Matt Hayden song on it. Best cricket parody ever.

[fairdinkum]

I just remembered McMillan's stance against Warne that summer... it was literally taking the piss, but he got the last laugh in the end, smashing Warnie a few times

How does one literally 'take the piss'?

:confused:

[TheGreatBambino]

McMillan was a favourite of mine. Retired whilst still in good form, retiring after the 2007 20/20 World Cup where he was New Zealands leading run scorer with an average of 40.75 and a strike rate of 181 and hit 13 sixes.

[emperor]

It was either McMillan or Cairns who I remember smashing a massive six over mid on at the Gabba during a final day run chase. Same series as the wing flap. Actually quite a memorable series that one for all the rain delays and lack of results.

[happy_eagle]

It was either McMillan or Cairns who I remember smashing a massive six over mid on at the Gabba during a final day run chase. Same series as the wing flap. Actually quite a memorable series that one for all the rain delays and lack of results.
Was that when Mcrgath got his 61 ?

[Johnson#26]

2001.

Awesome, awesome series.

[emperor]

Was that when Mcrgath got his 61 ?

Nah, that was in 04. I was there that day. We were giving it to the NZ fans there. The highlight of cricket attending life:D

[fitzmantle]

I remember McMillan growing a porno moustache on one of their tours to India or Pakistan. He seemed to enjoy his cricket and had a good sense of humour.

He was also one of the few players to take Warne on when he was bowling at his best, even though Warne got the better of him most times. Couldnt resist going the tonk when most players at the time were just trying to pad Warne away.

[Blue Dimension]

I just remembered McMillan's stance against Warne that summer... it was literally taking the piss, but he got the last laugh in the end, smashing Warnie a few times

Is that where he stood with two legs on either side and held the bat in between? (that sounds so wrong...) :o

I remember wondering what on earth he was doing. :confused:

[esaint66]

McMillan sure was a character, so were a majority of the New Zealand players around that time. A cruzey bunch that according to Shane Bond "only got up when the played you aussies"

They really make you proud to be a kiwi. Cruzey and out for a bit of fun.

Anyone remember when i think it was Dion Nash and Flemo got done for smoking joints in the rooms ?

[emperor]

Is that where he stood with two legs on either side and held the bat in between? (that sounds so wrong...) :o



Sounds perfectly natural :D

[emperor]

McMillan sure was a character, so were a majority of the New Zealand players around that time.


There's been quite a few characters and/or eccentrics to don the Black Cap.