His accuracy was unnerving, for both batsman and for any hapless umpire who happened to turn down an LBW appeal against him. But it was his subtle movement both ways off the seam that really made Glenn McGrath such a lethal bowler. His strike rate against the opening batsmen in particular was phenomenal. It seemed almost inevitable whenever he took the new cherry that within the first ten overs of any match, McGrath would make a breakthrough. It must have been a daunting proposition facing him. But where does he really sit in the pantheon of great fast bowlers?
sheek
Guest
Bob McGregor, For all I know, you could be right. I jut wish i could share your absolute certainty in the superiority of McGrath. Statistics are certainly useful, but only up to a point. We all know stats can be dressed up in a variety of ways. One day, someone with the skill, time & inclination might feed every ball Lillee bowled to a top 6 batsman 1970-84 into a computer, also analysing the ability of all those top 6 batsmen, & the top pacemen they played against during the same period. He might then repeat the exercise for McGrath, & then, & only then we might get a conclusive picture. As for the intimidation factor against lack of personal protection in the 1970s, this is certainly true. However, I could offer the counter argument that the batsmen of the 1970s had better technique than today's, since they didn't have the benefit of personal protection, & had to rely more on their wits & skill.
Bob McGregor
Guest
Ooh Aah the best by far! In assessing who was the best, statistics have to be used and his strike rate compared to others. On this basis McGrath rates number 1. But we must compare like with like and on this basis we cannot compare the current one bouncer per over [6balls] with the unlimited bouncers per over [8 balls] of the Lillie era. Let's face it Lillie "knocked" more people out while McGrath bowled them out with guile. In my view a lay down misere for McGrath. This is not taking anything from all the other great Australian bowlers and reason it is so difficult to compare eras in sport. The other variable of the eras was the protective gear worn by batsmen. The current gear is far superior to that of the Lillie era; hence "intimidation" was far more likely then - with likely success - than now.
sheek
Guest
Well, we've discussed this earlier elsewhere on the Roar. I think McGrath is the best fast bowler of the past decade, obviously. Where does he stand among the pantheon of the Gods? Well, let's start with an Aussie all-time XI selection, which in turn gives a clue to his international standing. In my alltime Aussie XI, I would have 5 specialist batsmen, a keeper-batsman, & 5 specialist bowlers (including 2 spinners). Keith Miller is the key to the balance of the team, sharing the #6-7 batting position with keeper Adam Gilchrist, & being the 3rd paceman behind Dennis Lillee & Ray Lindwall. McGrath would definately be in my alltime 2nd XI, sharing the pace duties with Fred Spofforth & Alan Davidson. If you preferred a 6 batsmen/keeper-batsman/4 bowlers, & you dropped both Miller & the 2nd spinner (O'Reilly ?) then McGrath would join Lillee & Lindwall in a three-pronged pace attack. So you could say, in my case, McGrath misses out on the top gig due to the structural requirements of my XI. I will put my hand up, & acknowledge any bias towards Lillee. No amount of stats can convince me we've had a better fast bowler. I also think collectively, Lillee bowled to better batsmen that McGrath (Lara & Tendulkar notable exceptions). Lindwall is Lillee's opening partner, because he was damn good, & he could also bat, hitting 2 test centuries. My alltime Aussie test 1st XI, based on 5/1/5 (incl. 2 spinners): Matt Hayden, Bill Ponsford, Don Bradman(c), Ricky Ponting(vc), Greg Chappell, Keith Miller, Adam Gilchrist, Ray Lindwall, Shane Warne, Dennis Lillee, Bill O'Reilly. Chappell provides a 6th bowler with his useful medium pacers. Batting depth down to Warne at #9. Excellent fielding side. Only 3 leftie batters - Hayden, Gilchrist, O'Reilly. My alltime Aussie test 2nd XI, based on 6/1/4 (incl. one spinner): Victor Trumper, Arthur Morris, Charlie Macartney, Neil Harvey, Allan Border(vc), Steve Waugh(c), Ian Healy(k), Alan Davidson, Clarrie Grimmett, Fred Spofforth, Glenn McGrath. Macartney is the 2nd spinner. Waugh additional medium pacer, giving 6 bowling options. Batting depth not as strong as 1st's, down to Davidson at #8. Another excellent fielding side. 4 leftie batters - Morris, Harvey, Border, Davidson.
spiro
Guest
bI remember seeing Glenn McGrath bowling for NSW against Victoria on a flat pitch a week or so after Shane Warne made his test debut. McGrath really struggled to make any sort of impact on the Victorians, and did not take a wicket, if my memory serves me right. Then a couple of weeks later there he was terroising test batsmen. And I think this is the mark of a great player. The more important the occasion, the better they play. As Zolton pointed out, McGrath made life hell for opening batsmen. He wasn't a profilic destroyer of the tail. But he ratio of victims in the top six of the batting order must be one of the highest in test cricket. He wasn't fast but he bowled a heavy ball. Batsmen found the ball hitting their bat high up near the splice. And players who charged him found that the 'heavy' weight of the delivery made it very hard to belt the ball out of the ground. The South Africans in the recent Cricket World Cup embarked on a tactic of charging McGrath, and collapsed in a heap. He lacked the drama in his method and temperament of Denis Lillee or Ray Lindwall or Freddy Trueman. He was the tradesman, rather than the artist. But no one in the history of cricket has been more efficient in removing top class batsmen from the crease. ther