Craig McMillan
A swashbuckling New Zealand batsman whose aggressive strokeplay and handy bowling made him a thrilling, if inconsistent, match-winner.
Born 1976 (age 50)·New Zealand cricketer·Birthday: September 13·Generation X
Biography
Craig McMillan walked to the crease with the air of a man who believed the bowling attack was a personal inconvenience. A right-handed batsman from Canterbury, his international career was a rollercoaster of breathtaking audacity and frustrating dismissals. When his eye was in, he was devastating, capable of dismantling attacks with powerful drives and inventive shots, particularly through the leg side. He announced himself with a century on Test debut against Australia and became a linchpin of New Zealand's middle order in the late 1990s and early 2000s. His useful medium-pace bowling and sharp fielding made him a valued limited-overs asset, part of the team that clinched the 2000 ICC KnockOut Trophy. After retirement, McMillan smoothly transitioned into commentary, where his direct, insightful analysis and dry wit have made him a familiar voice in the broadcast booth, offering a player's perspective on the modern game.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Craig was born in 1976, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Craig Was Born
The biggest hits of 1976
#1 Movie
Rocky
Best Picture
Rocky
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Craig's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1976Born
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1981Started school
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1989Became a teenager
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Could drive
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1994Could vote
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Turned 21
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2006Turned 30
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 40
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 50
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Scored a century (104) on his Test debut for New Zealand against Australia in 1997.
- Was a key member of the New Zealand squad that won the 2000 ICC KnockOut Trophy (the first edition of the Champions Trophy).
- Scored a brutal 117 off 96 balls in a 2007 World Cup match against Canada, including 7 sixes.
Did You Know?
He held the record for the fastest Test century by a New Zealander (off 67 balls) for several years until broken by Brendon McCullum.
McMillan played English county cricket for both Hampshire and Gloucestershire.
After retiring, he became a prominent cricket commentator and analyst for New Zealand broadcasters.
“If it's in the arc, hit it for six.”
