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‘Pigeon’ visit proves to be a big hit Mildura Weekly - 03/09/10
Story and pictures by VINNIE RODI ANYONE who knows and loves their cricket would have heard of Glenn McGrath. A legend of the sport, and rightly regarded as Australia’s greatest fast bowler of all time, McGrath enjoyed close to 13 years at the top of his game, playing in a golden period for Australian cricket. And while now retired, and focused on family life, ‘Ooh Ahh, Glenn McGrath’ is still a term thrown around by cricket die-hards, with the man himself still able to pull a big crowd. Visiting Sunraysia last week to help launch the 125th annual Wentworth Show, helping to pull a mammoth opening crowd, the Mildura Weekly caught up with McGrath while he was mixing with customers at Elders Mildura, visiting as part of his role as a national ambassador. “So who was the best team you played against?” one elderly woman asked. “Would have to be the West Indies – very intimidating,” came the response. It was the theme for most of the morning, with McGrath signing autographs, posing for photos, and generally discussing his career before being treated to a barbecue lunch. “Always a lot of fun doing these sorts of meet and greets with locals,” he said. “Everyone who approaches you is really friendly, and the majority are just mad about their cricket.” Standing an impressive 195 centimetres, it was easy to see why McGrath is one of the all-time greats of the game, and fourth highest wicket-taker in Test cricket history with 563 dismissals. Not that he wanted to go into too much detail about his career with the ‘Weekly. “Well and truly behind me now,” he said. “I’m actually enjoying this stage of my life, spending more time with the kids, getting out as part of my role with Elders, and enjoying the work I’m doing with the McGrath Foundation. “I’m sure, one day, I’ll return to cricket, probably through a coaching or development role with Cricket Australia, but for now it’s just a lot of fond memories.” Another part of McGrath’s visit involved visiting local schools, again addressing students about his career,
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• FLY-IN VISIT: Glenn McGrath was certainly the talk of the town when he visited Sunraysia last week, drawing massive numbers to the opening day of the annual Wentworth Show, where he was guest of honor. He also paid Elders Mildura a visit, part of his ambassador role with the company, which is where the Mildura Weekly’s Brendan Payne caught up with him, RIGHT, and where McGrath also signed autographs for locals, including Merbein South premiership player Shane Trinick, LEFT. That’s McGrath BELOW with Elders crew Ken Reed, Lee Field and Ben Griffith. which begun in Narrowmine, where he was first discovered by another former cricketing-great Doug Walters. It was after that meeting that he made the move to Sydney to play Grade cricket with Sutherland, making his debut for New South Wales during the 1992/93 season. McGrath capped off his rapid rise during the following Australian summer, earning selection in the Test team after only eight first-class matches. He debuted against New Zea-
land in 1993/94, making an immediate impact. In Australia’s 1995 Test series victory against the West Indies, McGrath took a never before seen approach against the then powerhouse side, bouncing the West Indies players, including the bowlers. It’s a tactic that worked, with the Windies players taking notice of the tall, skinny Australian bowler with a mean attitude. McGrath’s bowling, while not express pace, relied on unerring accuracy, and subtle seam movement.
His height, combined with a high arm action, allowed him to gain extra bounce from most pitches, often to the surprise of opposing batsmen. In the later years of his career he developed as a swing bowler, with his uncomplicated method and natural fitness significant fac-
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tors in the longevity of his career. In 2004, he became the first Australian fast bowler to play 100 Tests, and in the first innings of the ICC Super Series Test match in 2005, passed West Indies great Courtney Walsh to become the greatest wicket-taker amongst fast bowlers in Test history. And while taking on the West Indies was always a highlight, nothing compared to taking on the ultimate adversary England, with McGrath’s most famous Ashes appearances coming in the 2005 and 2007 series. During the first Ashes Test at Lords in 2005, McGrath became the fourth bowler in history to take 500 wickets with the dismissal of English opener Marcus Trescothick. This wicket was also the start of a productive spell (5-2), which led to England being bowled out for 155. McGrath took 4-29 in the second innings, named man of the match in a comprehensive Australian victory. McGrath then trod on a cricket ball and injured his ankle the morning of the second Test at Edgbaston, and was unable to play in the match where England amassed 407 runs in one day, eventually winning the game by two runs. He was rushed back when not fully fit for the third Test at Old Trafford, where he earned another fivewicket haul in the second innings of a drawn game, batting in a lastwicket partnership with Brett Lee to deny an English victory. • Continued Page 63
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