MacGill - AP

ST JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC):

Stuart MacGill admits his failure to launch in the first two Tests against West Indies cemented his decision to retire from international cricket.

The Australia leg-spin bowler announced on Sunday that the second Test against West Indies would be his final match under the Baggy Green and explained a number of factors had contributed to his decision.

"During the Australian summer when I had a lot of trouble with injury, I actually did contemplate pulling the pin then," he told reporters.

"My whole career, I have worked really, really hard to prove to myself and my peers that I belonged here and leaving with a bad taste in my mouth - that's not in the script.

"I got over here and appeared to be moving in the right direction, but I started to notice in the first Test - quite apart from the fact that I was not bowling as well as I would have liked - things were not working the way they were supposed to work.

"I think when you play for your country, you have a huge responsibility not only to yourself, but the guy at the other end and I could not live with myself if I felt I let somebody down in that respect."

The 37-year-old MacGill asserted that he did not want to retire. He still had several goals he wanted to achieve in his career.

Great coming

"If I looked at the next 12 months of Test cricket potentially, I have never played a Test against New Zealand, I have never played overseas against India, South Africa, or England and they are all there waiting for me," he said.

"If I felt I could do my job, I would be playing on, but I can't guarantee that to myself and I can't guarantee it to [anybody else].

"I felt great coming to the Caribbean, but I don't know what it is - whether it was the travel, we had a tight schedule and the rigours of this tour have proven a bit too big for me and historically it has been for a number of bowlers."

MacGill noted a sign that all was not well with him was when he woke up late, missed the team bus and arrived only minutes before the start of cricket on the second day of the Test on Saturday.

"To be totally honest, it's incredibly embarrassing," he said. "It's very, very simple. The alarm on the clock did not go off, I missed the bus and I was late for work.

"Obviously, it is very important to be on time for my job, but it is significant and I felt embarrassed. I just don't need complications right now to be honest.

"Very few of us cope well with tours in the Caribbean because of the gruelling conditions. It was actually a pretty early night for me, but I can't guarantee I slept well, since I had a lot on my mind.

"Still, that's not a good enough reason. It would be 'cool' if I had a different story. But - I was ready for training within five minutes of walking in the door."