Asked about maestro Sachin Tendulkar’s dipping Test form, former Australian paceman Glenn McGrath said, “He has been a phenomenal player. I think he will know best when to leave. We should all grant him that. Before I retired, I took the call.”
McGrath, the MRF Pace Foundation’s new director, met the trainees here on Monday. He was accompanied by pace guru Dennis Lillee and head-coach M. Senthilnathan.
Answering a question on the Kevin Pietersen issue, McGrath said, “I do not know what happened between Pietersen and the ECB.”
Speaking on a broader topic, the Aussie pace predator said while individuals mattered, the team always came first. “I put the team above everything else when I played for Australia,” he said.
McGrath was in favour of DRS. “The technology might not be 100 per cent, but it is pretty close to that and helps the umpires. And I think we can avoid blatant umpiring mistakes like an inside edge being overlooked.”
The 42-year-old Australian said South Africa, the current No. 1 in Tests, not only had a worthy pace attack but was a well balanced side too.
“England before South Africa had some very good pace bowlers and a quality spinner in Graeme Swann. Now South Africa has a fine pace attack in Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander, with whom I am impressed. And the side has good batting too in Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla.”
Lillee said he could assist the MRF Pace Foundation in an advisory role in the future if McGrath and the management desired so. He also indicated that McGrath wanted him to contribute to the pace foundation in some capacity.
