Dubai: Gulf News enjoyed an exclusive telephone interview with Australia’s legendary former fast bowler Glenn McGrath recently about his work with the MRF Pace Foundation in India. We also took the opportunity to quiz him about current issues in cricket and asked for his most memorable recollections of his stellar career.
McGrath shared his wisdom with us as follows:
ON WHETHER ALASTAIR COOK SHOULD STAND DOWN AS ENGLAND CAPTAIN
“It’s a tough one. He’s been under the pump a little bit after getting beaten 5-0 in Australia in the Ashes last year and then losing to Sri Lanka in a home series. At the end of the day, it’s up to him and the selectors.
“If there is someone better than him for the job, maybe it’s time [for him to go]. If there isn’t, then I’d probably stick with him.
“I think we might see some changes coming up. The current series with India is very important for him to win. England have always done well against India there [in England].
“As for him reacting to criticism by my old teammate Shane Warne, Warney can do that, can’t he? Cook has been under the pump, with a few questions asked about his captaincy.
“England seem to be a very structured team with a plan A and no plan B. So when things aren’t working, they just sit back and wait for the opposition to make a mistake before they go hard again.
“I think as a captain, you need to think on your feet a little bit more, have a few more ideas, and be able to implement them and have the team implement them.
“In that respect, as much as I have a lot of respect for Cooky, I think he needs a little more flair and a few more ideas to really turn things round.”
ON MAHENDRA SINGH DHONI’S CAPTAINCY OF INDIA
“There’s always a bit of speculation about Dhoni’s captaincy, especially of late. I always find that quite funny. I have a lot of respect for Dhoni as a captain and as a person. I think he’s done a great job as captain and brings everyone together.
“And he’s a bit of a lead-by-example type of guy. I think he’s the right choice as captain. I read that he hasn’t scored a 100 outside of India, so he’ll be keen to get some runs over there [in the ongoing Test series in England]. If India do well, he’ll continue as captain.
“If they get beaten, plenty of people will be calling for his head, but unfortunately that’s the way it goes. It’s probably similar to where Cooky [England captain Alastair Cook] is at the moment.”
ON HIS LOVE OF INDIA
“Indians have a real passion and real love for cricket, which is equalled nowhere else in the world. In Australia, you can still be a normal person if you’re a cricketer and in England you can still be a normal person if you’re a cricketer to a degree.
“In India, Bollywood movie stars and cricketers are held in similar high regard. It’s totally different over here. They just love cricket.
“Obviously they want India to win, but they do have that passion for cricket and cricketers from anywhere in the world. I’ve always enjoyed my time over here. It’s such a contrast to what we have back in Australia, from everything from the culture, food, conditions and the people. It is an amazing place and I do enjoy coming over here. I’ve been very welcomed by Indians and always have been, even more so now I’ve retired.”
ON WHETHER THE INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE STILL WORKS
“I think it does. Obviously it’s been very good financially for cricketers, with plenty of incentive to come over here and play.
“But I don’t want to see too many IPL-style tournaments coming about, or they would start affecting their international calendar. Playing for your country should still be the number one priority. It’s an opportunity for cricketers to earn money and experience Indian conditions.
“It’s also an opportunity for young Indian players to play alongside international cricketers that they normally they wouldn’t get the opportunity to play with.
“Also one of the things I enjoyed here [playing for Delhi Daredevils in the 2008 event] was playing alongside guys I’d only ever played against and to see how they went about it, become mates with them and realise there’s not much difference between all of you. We’re all out there competing, have a real love for the game of cricket and can learn a lot from each other. There are a lot of positives from the IPL.
“Obviously there are positives and negatives in anything. If it starts affecting people playing for their country, I’d see it becoming an issue.
“It’s a balancing act, not playing too much cricket. The way the international schedule is, there are not too many breaks, although the authorities obviously leave a bit of a gap in international schedule for the IPL series.
“As a fast bowler, you do need an off-season, a period each year just to recharge your batteries, to put a bit more strength and fitness into the body, because the daily grind of bowling slowly depletes your strength
“If guys are playing all year round, I equate it to filling your car with petrol. If you keep driving, keep driving and you don’t fill your car up, sooner or later you’re going to run out of fuel.”
ON WHETHER AUSTRALIA’S REVIVAL CAN CONTINUE
“Yeah, I do think it can continue. I saw bits and pieces [of cause for optimism] in the UK during the Ashes series last year, which Australia lost 3-0 to England. Darren Lehmann coming in as coach was crucial, as he turned the feel around with the team and brought everyone together. He made a huge difference straight away.
“Then we saw the resurgence of [fast bowler] Mitchell Johnson, bowling at pace and with control, aggression and a little bit more self-belief and mental toughness. The way he’s bowling is just incredible. It has really lifted the whole team with him intimidating the opposition.
“I don’t see it [the revival] changing too quickly. I think the Australians have a good team together. The top order has been batting well and [wicketkeeper] Brad Haddin coming in the sixth or seventh spot has just done exceptionally job for Australia of late.
“The fact that they beat England 5-0 in Australia and then went over to South Africa and won the series there, I can’t see things turning around too quickly. As long as they keep someone like Mitchell Johnson fit, they’re going to be a real tough team to beat.”
ON HIS FAVOURITE PERFORMANCE OF ALL TIME
“It’s hard to narrow it down to one. I played in an amazing era of Australian cricket. When you walked on the field and looked around at guys like Steve Waugh, Shane Warne, Ricky Ponting, Matty Hayden and Adam Gilchrist. I could go on and on and name so many players. It was pretty amazing.
“I loved touring England, and especially playing at Lord’s. It’s something quite unique and I looked at it as the home of cricket. There’s something special about it. I always seemed to do pretty well there. Lord’s was one of my most favourite grounds in the world.”
ON HOW HE WANTS TO BE REMEMBERED
“That’s up to other people. Hopefully I played in the right spirit and never took a backward step.
“I gave everything I had and never gave up. I wasn’t as quick as I would have liked to have been. I would have liked to have reached speeds of 150 kilometres an hour
“But what I could do, I could do very well. I could bowl in good areas, build pressure, get a bit of bounce. I like to think my accuracy and never-give-up attitude will be remembered.”
