Australian legend Glenn McGrath picked hosts Australia and New Zealand as the finalists of the ongoing ICC ODI World Cup. Australia, he said, would emerge triumphant.
Here for yet another coaching stint at the MRF Pace Foundation, McGrath added on Monday that India and South Africa would make the last four stage of the competition.
The Australian’s predictions ahead of major sporting events have largely come true. The 2014 football World Cup had just started when McGrath said the final would be between Germany and one of the Latin American teams with the former winning the competition. Germany took the title defeating Argentina in the summit clash.
Super recordThe 45-year-old McGrath’s credentials as a World Cup giant are impeccable. He has an astonishing 71 wickets spread across four editions — the most by any bowler in the competition — and was Man of the tournament in 2007 with a record-breaking 26 wickets. He played a significant role in Australia winning three successive World Cups — in 1999, 2003 and 2007.
Talking about the Indian side, McGrath said, “India has a very good batting line-up. And bowling, which struggled in the Test series, appears to be settling down. The Indian bowlers have bowled a much better length in the two World Cup matches so far.”
On the Indian seamers, McGrath observed, “Mohammed Shami has looked good. Umesh Yadav has been sharp as well.”
McGrath, however, felt paceman Varun Aaron should have been included in the Indian World Cup side. “I thought he bowled well in the Test series in Australia. He was fast and swung the ball. Unfortunately, catches were dropped off his bowling.” Aaron is at the camp here to train under the great Australian.
Sharing his thoughts on pitches for the India-Australia Test series, McGrath noted, “I thought they were the flattest pitches I have seen in Australia. It was as if the pitches were prepared more for India than the home side.”
The surfaces in the ongoing World Cup have also been batsmen-friendly but McGrath felt it was up to the bowlers to overcome the conditions. “I think the pitches are all right for one-day cricket. The bowlers have to bowl with control and create the pressure.”
Backs field restrictionsMcGrath agreed that with field restrictions and PowerPlays, things were becoming increasingly harder for the bowlers. “With the advent of Twenty20 cricket, the batsmen have been playing more shots too and scores in ODIs have been getting bigger.”
Asked about impressive performances in the World Cup so far, McGrath said, “I thought Brendon McCullum batted brilliantly. And Tim Southee swung the ball and bowled with control.”
Among the Australian bowlers, McGrath was impressed with left-arm seamer Mitchell Starc. “He has been bowling at a good pace and moving the ball.”
Although the present Australian side was strong, McGrath felt the long gap between matches — Australia’s game against Bangladesh was washed out — could deprive the side of momentum.
He was unwilling to compare the present Australian team with the ones he had represented.
McGrath rated the triumph in 1999 when Australia roared back from an adverse situation in the competition as the most cherished one.
“The semifinal against South Africa ended in a gripping tie. When Darren Lehmann narrowly missed a run-out in the last over, we thought we had lost the opportunity. Then, when bowler Damien Fleming rolled the ball over to ’keeper Adam Gilchrist for a run-out off the next delivery, the ball seemed to take an eternity before it travelled to the other end. We were now in the final.”
DominationRecalling the 2003 and the 2007 World Cups, McGrath said, “In 2003, I said we would win all the matches and everyone laughed. We won all the games. In 2007, I said we would not only win all the matches but would do so with big margins. Everyone laughed again. We accomplished that.”
Being successful in the World Cup, McGrath explained, was a lot about allowing one’s nerves to ease. To illustrate his point, McGrath said, “On the eve of the 2003 final in Johannesburg, there was a lot of noise and energy around when we practised. The Indians were training next to us and it was very quiet out there. We enjoyed our cricket in the final. India didn’t. Of course, the Indian fans will never forgive me for dismissing Sachin Tendulkar early.”
McGrath believed World Cup 2015 would actually begin only from the quarterfinals. “That is when your performances really count,” he said.
