Although supportive of the Decision Review System in the beginning, Glenn McGrath is now in favour of umpires having the final say.
“I think DRS kills the moment. A bowler takes a big wicket and the whole team celebrates. Then the decision is referred and the verdict is ‘not out’. It’s a big downer,” McGrath, who is here at the MRF Pace Foundation, said on Monday.
“Everybody makes mistakes,” said McGrath. “But it all evens out in the end. I feel when the umpire gives you out, it should stay that way.”
With Australia visiting India for four Tests — the first begins in Pune on February 23 — much focus was on the upcoming series.
McGrath said playing spin would be a big challenge. “The Australians have either been too aggressive or too defensive coping with spin in India. They have to find a way.
“Look at Matthew Hayden. He wasn’t a very good player of spin to start with but learnt to play here in Chennai. When the Aussies toured India in 2001, he was ready with a game-plan, sweeping the spinners. I think the sweep is an effective shot in these conditions.”
McGrath said Australia had some good young batting talent. “Peter Handscomb has made a very good start to his Test career. And he is a fine player of spin,” he said.
McGrath said though spinners would play a role, the visitors’ quick bowlers will need to strike even in the back-breaking Indian conditions.
“Mitchell Starc can bowl at speeds in excess of 150 kmph. He is a left-armer, swings the new ball, reverses the old. Josh Hazlewood moves the ball, get wickets. They will need to adjust to the Indian conditions. Reverse swing will be a factor,” said McGrath.
On Virat Kohli taking over as captain of the Indian limited-over teams too, McGrath said: “This had to happen at some stage. When your Test captain is also in the ODI and Twenty20 teams, I think he should be the skipper in all formats.”
McGrath said Test sides these days largely tend to disappoint away from home. “Now the teams are very good at home and very bad away. That needs to change,” he said. “For India to be really considered No. 1, it will have to win Test series in South Africa, Australia and England.”
