That’s not because the match will be played on one of the best batting tracks in the country, or that the quality of the North Down teas are exceptional, it is because former New Zealand test cricketer Craig McMillan will have the ideal platform to show all his cricket prowess.
The “McMillan Factor” is the biggest boost to the senior cup final since Touche Ross sponsorship in 1989 brought the showpiece into the realms of modern sports promotion, and gave it the final the stage it deserved. Many people feel the final has gone back since then, and that the absence of a sponsor in 2010 is a gross disservice to the competition, but Kiwi Craig McMillan will inadvertently lift its profile on Friday, and he will boost the gate as he woes back some of the missing neutrals.
McMillan is the highest profile cricketer to play in Irish club cricket, and long before he donned the Whites at CIYMS, the club was praised in many quarters for their enterprise and vision. Of course they never had the support of the ant-professional brigade, but given that opponents of professional cricket will never give an inch, then we have to respect their views and move forward with the majority of cricketers who still feel they are good for the game. Craig McMillan’s arrival at Belmont was good for the NCU game, and although his presence in the CI team made them formidable opponents, it also lifted the bar with opposing teams, and gave rival bowlers the opportunity to capture a prize scalp, and seal a story that will live long in clubhouse folklore in the years to come. McMillan has certainly roused more interest in the game that anyone before him, but he’s fallible, and to highlight that point Kyle McCallan stole his stage in the early part of the season with his meteoric batting exploits. Since then McMillan has starred with both bat and ball, and clubs on the receiving end will be quick to acknowledge his ability. But perhaps his biggest drawing power is his willingness to entertain, and that’s what has made him so special in world cricket in a career that produced nearly 8,000 first-class runs, six test centuries, and 26 runs off an unforgettable Younus Khan over in a test match.
Over the past decade neutral spectators have dwindled at senior cup finals, and although the union has moved with the times and adopted a one-day final, there’s still a lot to be done to lift the occasion. The Comber venue will help with its easy access close to the greater Belfast area, and the two clubs could not have a better location. North Down will have home advantage, but most NCU batsmen relish the opportunity of batting at the Green, and Craig McMillan will be no exception.
The “McMillan Factor” makes predictions and past records irrelevant in this match, although the North Down players have a lot of experience and proven match-winners within their ranks. They also have Andrew Sutherland in prolific form, and Ryan Haire and Taimur Khan capable of hitting big scores, so there will be a few other batsmen on show who can take some of the limelight away from McMillan. The Comber team will enjoy the challenge of facing Barry Cooper’s team armed with the “McMillan Factor,” but they won’t be overawed and they will be up for the challenge. CI will also look back on their previous cup final in 2006 as a stepping stone on their rise up the cricket ladder, and if anyone had doubts on their right to sit at the top table, then that all disappeared with their terrific win over senior cup giants Waringstown in the semi-finals. Craig McMillan scored 104 in that game, and captured the headlines so that’s the type of exhibition everyone outside the North Down camp will be expecting on Friday. The scene is set for an intriguing match, and let’s hope neutral spectators and local cricketers see the occasion as something special, and help bring back some of the buzz to the senior cup final.
If it takes the “McMillan Factor” to do that, then we look forward to some entertaining cricket.
Good luck to both teams.
Clarence Hiles
Editor
