Stuart MacGill has launched an extraordinary rant at co-host Andrew Menczel during Monday’s episode of the Cricket Unfiltered Podcast.
While discussing Australia’s upcoming Test commitments, including a highly-anticipated three-match tour of South Africa in October, Menczel and MacGill were speaking about hostile crowds. Menczel then referenced the scenes witnessed during Australia’s last tour in 2018, mentioning the treatment of Candice Warner.
“I do think the sexist treatment of Candice Warner by the South African crowds went way over the line,” Menczel said.
“Going in with Sonny Bill Williams masks to try and taunt Warner is low. That is low behaviour. It’s targeting his wife, which I think is pretty poor, and they can go pretty low.”
Stuart MacGill unleashes at co-host during Cricket Unfiltered Podcast episode
MacGill blew up, dismissing Menczel’s words in an extraordinary rant. The former legspinner took exception to the fact that Menczel would even mention the incident, calling him a “f***ing idiot” and “pig-headed”.
“Well I think it’s pretty low talking about it for starters, Menners. I think you didn’t need to go into details there. I think that’s s***. You’re a f***ing idiot. You shouldn’t go into details about things like this because you’re doing exactly the same as the crowd. OK,” MacGill said.
Things began to simmer further as Menczel said it wasn’t his intention. However, MacGill was enraged.
“No, not really, because they were taunting him” replied Menczel, before MacGill saw red, saying “No, no you are. Listen to me now, you’ve raised exactly the same issues, you’re saying the same thing that they did. And that is s***. So we’re not going to talk about that anymore.
“If we’re going to talk about issues to do with one particular player, we can say they’ve talked about personal issues relating to that player.
“Menners, what I want you to do right this minute, because otherwise this is going to be a very, very short-lived relationship, you need to respect players and their families a lot more than you do at the moment,” MacGill said.
“I do respect them … I felt sorry for her,” Menczel replied.
“Listen mate, listen. She’s a friend of mine as well. Listen, I feel sorry for you because you’re obviously so pig-headed because you do not realise you said exactly the same thing as the South African crowd. Exactly the same,” MacGill said.
“And if you cut that out, it’s the last time I ever work with you. You are a moron. Continue. Next topic.”
Menczel was trying to speak from his perspective, but MacGill was having none of it, even threatening to jump over the microphone.
“I won’t cut it out at all, I’ll leave it in. I just think you’re missing the point. You’re missing what I’m trying to say,” Menczel said.
“Move on, move on, move on, move on, move on. Listen, you muppet. When I say move on, I’m not saying keep talking about something,” MacGill replied.
“I may jump across the mic at any second,” he then said as Menczel said the former legspinner looked irritable.
After a few attempts to divert the conversation to Australia’s Test series against Bangladesh in August, a visibly surprised and stunned Menczel decided to end the episode.
“Australia are going up north for three… for two Test matches… actually you know what? That’s it for this episode. Thanks for joining us.”
Comments critical of MacGill’s behaviour during episode
As of 1:30pm Sydney time on Tuesday, the majority of comments on the YouTube video were critical of MacGill’s reaction.
“McGill behaving like a playground bully, what a shame,” wrote one fan.
“Could see exactly this sort of thing coming from a mile away as soon as MacGill came on board.. From the very first episode he was imposing himself on the discussion like it was his podcast and something heated like this always appeared to be just a matter of when.. Menners you need to cut him loose immediately.. The show was actually better before MacGill came into it anyway,” wrote another.
Menczel founded the Cricket Unfiltered Podcast in 2013. MacGill joined as co-host in January this year, but the relationship has quickly turned sour.
You can watch the interaction below from 19:10 onwards.
