Bryce McGain


Bryce Edward McGain is a former Australian cricketer who played a single Test match for the Australian national cricket team, as well as domestically for Victoria. McGain made his first-class debut in 2002 against New South Wales at the Sydney Cricket Ground. However, due to other Victorian spinners—Shane Warne and Cameron White—he was unable to hold down a place in the side. He worked in the IT section of a bank and played Victorian Premier Cricket for Prahran Cricket Club before being called up to the Victorian side again.
McGain became a regular for Victoria in the 2007–08 season and was impressive, taking 38 wickets at 34.78. This led spin mentor Terry Jenner to suggest that McGain could be selected in the Australian Test team for the 2007–08 home series against India. Although this predicted selection did not eventuate, McGain was later selected for the 2008–09 four-Test tour of India after playing for Australia A in India in September 2008. During this tour, he got the opportunity to play a 2-day tour match against Rajasthan Cricket Association XI, but he did not get to bat or bowl. Unfortunately for him, he had to return home due to a shoulder injury after having only played in this one tour match.
McGain finally made his Test debut at the age of 36 at Newlands in Cape Town in the third Test against South Africa in March 2009. He had a far from favourable Test debut, conceding 0/149 from 18 overs – the worst figures returned by an Australian in a Test match. The South African batsmen targeted him for attack and hit many sixes from his bowling. He made two in the first innings and was run out for a duck in the second.
Bryce was also an accomplished local AFL footballer, playing at the Silvan Football Club in the YVMDFL between 1996-2001. Playing 82 games and kicking 93 goals. A smooth moving midfielder, Bryce won three club senior Best & Fairest’s, 1997,99 & 2000. Along with the YVMDFL 2000 Senior League Best & Fairest award. Bryce was also inducted into Silvan’s “Team of Century” in 2002.