Stuart MacGill, the former Australian Test cricketer, has been found guilty of participating in the supply of cocaine in Sydney. The 54-year-old, who earned 44 Test caps for Australia and took 208 wickets during his career, had denied the charge. He pleaded not guilty to one count of taking part in the supply of a prohibited drug.
The charge stemmed from an incident in April 2021, in which MacGill facilitated an introduction between a cocaine dealer and another individual. Although MacGill’s role was limited to the introduction, the dealer was involved in two other alleged drug supplies. On Thursday, a jury in the New South Wales District Court heard the details of the case, leading to MacGill’s conviction.
MacGill, who is expected to return to court for sentencing in May, had previously made headlines in 2021 when he was allegedly kidnapped, assaulted, and threatened with a gun. The New South Wales state police arrested and charged four men in connection with that incident.
Throughout his international cricket career, which spanned from 1988 to 2008, MacGill was often overshadowed by the legendary Shane Warne, Australia’s other prominent leg-spinner. Warne, who is second on the list of all-time leading wicket-takers in Test cricket, garnered much of the attention, leaving MacGill’s achievements somewhat in the shadow of his teammate’s success.
Now, the former spin bowler faces legal consequences for his involvement in the drug supply case, with sentencing scheduled for May.
Photo Credit: LinkedIn Profile Photo of Staurt MacGill
