Aussie cricket great Stuart MacGill 'kidnapped and held for ransom'

·Sports Editor

4 May 2021 at 7:21 pm·2-min read

Stuart MacGill, pictured here during a Test match for Australia in 2008. — Stuart MacGill look on during a Test match for Australia in 2008. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

Aussie cricket great Stuart MacGill has been named as the victim of an alleged kidnapping and extortion attempt in Sydney.

While NSW Police haven't identified the victim, described as a 50-year-old man, MacGill has been named by multiple media outlets.

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Police said the alleged victim was confronted by a man in Cremorne on Sydney's north shore at 8pm on April 14.

Two other men then arrived and helped force him into a car before driving him to Bringelly, in Sydney's southwest, where he was threatened with a firearm.

An hour later the victim was driven to Belmore and released.

According to the Daily Telegraph, MacGill was badly assaulted during the ordeal.

The incident was reported to police on April 20.

Four men - aged 27, 29, 42 and 46 - were arrested in dawn raids on Wednesday.

The men have been taken to police stations where charges are expected to be laid.

Police officers are in the process of executing search warrants at homes at Sutherland, Caringbah, Brighton Le-Sands, Banksia and Marrickville.

Stuart MacGill and Shane Warne, pictured here in 2006. — Stuart MacGill and Shane Warne in 2006. (Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

Stuart MacGill among Australia's unluckiest cricketers

MacGill played 44 Tests for Australia between 1998 and 2008, taking 208 wickets.

Only Shane Warne (708), Richie Benaud (248) and Clarrie Grimmett (216) have more Test wickets among Australian leg-spinners.

MacGill played the majority of his career while Warne was in his prime, meaning he probably would have played many more Tests in any other era.

MacGill also played in three one-day internationals for his country.

He took 328 wickets for NSW in the Sheffield Shield, putting him equal-third on the state's all-time list alongside Trent Copeland.

Only Geoff Lawson (367) and Greg Matthews (363) have taken more wickets for NSW in first-class cricket.

After retiring in 2008 he made a comeback at age 40 to play for the Sydney Sixers in the inaugural Big Bash League season in 2011.

with AAP

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