Passing on the knowledge: Kiwi great Craig McMillan keen to see emerging stars shine
Craig McMillan is a veteran when it comes to ICC events and the former New Zealand all-rounder is keen to pass on all he knows to the White Ferns ahead of next month's ICC Women's T20 World Cup.
By Jonathan Healy
When it comes to cricket in New Zealand, there's not too many people more synonymous and as roundly respected as former all-rounder Craig McMillan.
McMillan won a debut as a player when a spritely 20-year-old in an ODI against Sri Lanka in Hyderabad in 1997 and went on to become one of New Zealand’s biggest stars of his generation.
McMillan in his recent role as TV commentator in 2023 // Getty Images
The talented all-rounder made 260 international appearances for his country, with the bulk of those coming in the ODI arena where he is the ninth most capped Kiwi player in men's 50-over cricket.
It's no surprise that McMillan's affiliation with ODI cricket took him to three editions of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup (1999, 2003, 2007) and the 48-year-old showed he could have been just as effective at T20I level with a strong showing at the inaugural edition of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in 2007.
Brendon McCullum scored a breezy 45 and Daniel Vettori starred with the ball with returns of 4/20 as New Zealand secured a 10-run win over India in the 13th match of the 2007 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.
But with his playing days long over and a new job of nurturing the next generation of international stars in his role as assistant coach of New Zealand's women's team now his focus, McMillan is determined to pass on all his knowledge to the crop of players that will get the chance to shine at next month's ICC Women's T20 World Cup.
"I was lucky enough to go to four white-ball World Cups as a player and three as batting coach at the Black Caps, so I have a lot of experience in terms of World Cups," McMillan told ICC Digital from Lincoln on New Zealand’s south island as the White Ferns prepare for the T20 World Cup.
"They're different beasts, it's a tournament sort of format, so it's different to a normal tour.
"I'll certainly be using that knowledge and passing that on to the group where needed. World Cups are high pressure tournaments where a fast start is important, but they're also a lot of fun, so I am looking forward to being part of the World Cup with this group."
Suzie Bates starred with a classy half-century to help New Zealand to a big score against Sri Lanka at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2023
Much of that knowledge that McMillan discovered during his playing career came on the back of his tenacity while at the crease and his ability to thrive most with his back against the wall or when the odds were against.
The damaging right-hander smashed a then record 26 runs from one Younis Khan over in a Test against Pakistan at Hamilton in 2001 and produced Player of the Match performances when his team needed him most on the biggest stage of all at the 2003 World Cup against Bangladesh and then again in 2007 when he scored 38* and picked up 3/23 with the ball against South Africa to help put the Kiwis in the semi-finals.
Ross Taylor made an impressive 62 off 43 balls and Jacob Oram a dazzling 19-ball 33*, but it was Sri Lanka who completed a comprehensive seven-wicket win with Sanath Jayasuriya (61 off 44) and Mahela Jayawardene (35* off 18) leading the way in match 11 of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2007.
The fact McMillan retired after he finished as New Zealand's leading run-scorer at the first T20 World Cup in 2007 shows that he often did things his own way and it's been a similar story post his playing career as he's been involved in a successful era for the Black Caps at international level.
McMillan was New Zealand's batting coach at the 2015 and 2019 World Cups when the Black Caps finished second at both events and a brief foray into commentating has seen the likeable Kiwi legend return to his current role with the White Ferns ahead of the T20 World Cup.
"I've loved being back in coaching again, and the girls have been very welcoming and receptive to me," McMillan said.
"It's been a lot of fun, I am enjoying working with the players and also the coaches, (head coach) Ben Sawyer and (assistant coach) Dean Brownlee. Everyone's working pretty hard on improving their games at the moment."
McMillan (right) alongside New Zealand great Kane Williamson // Getty Images
New Zealand managed just two wins from four matches at the most recent edition of the T20 World Cup in South Africa last year and are not among the favourites to win the title in the UAE despite boasting an impressive top-order that includes veteran duo Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates and star all-rounder Amelia Kerr.
But it's the next crop of players that excites McMillan the most as he knows it’s at ICC events where stars are unearthed and even previously unheard-of players suddenly become big names.
Former New Zealand all-rounder Roger Twose did exactly that when he scored 319 runs at the 1999 edition of the Men's Cricket World Cup, Bates became a household name when she was the leading run-scorer at the 2013 edition of the Women's World Cup and Kiwi great Debbie Hockley still holds the record for the most runs of any female player at 50-over World Cups.
And that's why McMillan is looking to the likes of Georgia Plimmer, Eden Carson, Fran Jonas and Izzy Gaze to show the world exactly how good they are and make a name for themselves with some eye-catching efforts at next month's tournament.
"One of the great things about World Cups is the chance to show how good you are on the world stage," McMillan noted.
"We have a number of players that started their international careers young, but have been on the team for a few years now and they've shown glimpses of their potential that they possess.
"So I think this World Cup is a great opportunity for them to show that on the world stage and I know one that all the players are excited by."