The Hindu : McGrath typifies Aussie aggression

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 18, 2003

Sport

Sport - World Cup

McGrath typifies Aussie aggression

POTCHEFSTROOM Feb. 17. Australia fast bowler Glenn McGrath sensed his side had the upper hand over India in their World Cup Group A match on Saturday when Sachin Tendulkar started talking to him.

``After one pull shot he attempted I just mentioned to him 'make sure you pick the right one to have a go at' and he had a go at me for not bowling at the stumps,'' McGrath told reporters.

``I said 'Why should I bowl straight, you always smash them when I bowl at the stumps.

``We get on well off the field but generally there is not a great deal said between us on the ground.

``For him to have a go at me for not bowling straight meant I was frustrating him and doing my job well,'' he added.

Australia's ability to frustrate the leading run-scorer in World Cup history, restricting Tendulkar to 36 in more than two hours at the crease, typified the effective way Ricky Ponting's men have gone about their business.

A major reason for their fast start to the tournament, in which they have beaten Pakistan by 82 runs and India by nine wickets, has been McGrath's return to form and fitness.

The 33-year-old, Australia's second most successful bowler in one-day cricket behind Shane Warne, suffered a side strain in late December and missed most of the triangular series against England and Sri Lanka.

The bad news for opposing teams is that McGrath's lay-off has left him raring to go as he showed with one for 39 against Pakistan and one for 23 from eight overs at Centurion Park, including three successive maidens, two of them to Tendulkar.

``The idea was always to ensure I was back to full fitness for the World Cup and be keen to go and that is exactly how it has turned out,'' he said.

``I got to spend some extra time with my family, which was a bonus, and now I am fresh coming over here after not a great deal of cricket.''

That freshness means that although Ponting has hinted his top pace bowlers may be rested before the Super Sixes and the knock-out stages of the tournament, that is not McGrath's preferred option.

``I would like to play in every game of this World Cup,'' he said.

``If it is in the best interests of the side for one of the quicks, myself included, to rest then that is fine by me. ``But I have just come off a month of not much cricket, I am fresh, keen and ready to go and with three or four days between each match there is plenty of time to recover. — Reuters

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport