The perfect metaphor: Glenn McGrath and the art of intelligent pace bowling

By Harsh Thakor* 

Glenn McGrath is arguably the most intelligent and calculative bowler of all time, as well as the best ever fast-medium bowler. I cannot name a bowler with more control, higher consistency of length, or one who better mastered the weaknesses of prize opponents. McGrath was the ultimate personification of a computerised cricketing machine.

McGrath did not possess the sheer speed of Jeff Thomson, the movement and variations of Wasim Akram, the aggression and classical art of Dennis Lillee, or the composure of Michael Holding, but in a complete package he epitomised the perfect bowler. His bowling fused the perfect concoction of pace, movement, and bounce with an element of unpredictability. When McGrath bowled in the corridor of uncertainty, he was equally lethal as the likes of Malcolm Marshall.

The greatest of batsmen, like Sachin Tendulkar or Brian Lara, virtually became 'bunnies' of McGrath, groping or fishing outside the off stump. He possessed a rhythmic, most economical action. A long, straight run producing a balanced delivery showcased a rhythmical action. His head remained level until well into the follow-through after releasing the ball from the full wheel of the body that propelled from the classical position.

McGrath played a pivotal role and was a major factor in Australia shaping into arguably the best ever cricketing side from the late 1990s. Even if bowling at medium pace, his best spells created the effect of an electric shock, orchestrating the capitulation or folding up of the best of batting sides. He literally bewildered batsmen when bowling around the off stump, making them clueless as to whether to play a stroke. McGrath relentlessly placed the ball in the same spot with a characteristic predatory streak, in the manner of a cricketing robot, boring out a batsman till he lost control. Even on docile tracks or conditions unfavourable to bowling, McGrath could outthink batsmen by inducing variations of pace and length. He was amongst the game's most intense competitors, never yielding an inch, even when his side was in a precarious position. McGrath's bowling was a testament that accuracy was more important than speed. Unfortunately, he would often throw temper tantrums, looking a picture of grumpiness on the field.

McGrath's bowling skill drew comparison with Richard Hadlee and Curtly Ambrose. Ambrose extracted more speed and bounce to be more lethal in spells and on bad wickets, while Hadlee had more classical sideways movement and action and could be more effective on a green top. Still, in my opinion, it was McGrath who, in the longer run, possessed a higher threat to batsmen. On the flat tracks in the subcontinent, McGrath overshadowed both Hadlee and Ambrose. McGrath represented a champion side, in contrast to Hadlee, who single-handedly bore the brunt of the weakest of bowling attacks.

Suffice to say, McGrath was a late bloomer in the arena of international cricket, growing up in New South Wales. He was spotted at the age of seventeen by Doug Walters, playing against Narromine. He captured five wickets in his first game for New South Wales, and seven in the Sheffield Shield final later that 1992-93 season. McGrath made his first stamp in the 1995 Frank Worrell Trophy in the West Indies, when his haul of 25 wickets played an instrumental role in orchestrating Australia's series triumph, becoming the first team to win a series on Caribbean soil since 1973.

To me, when capturing 5-38 at Lord's in 2005, McGrath epitomised seam bowling virtuosity, transcending realms rarely scaled. Similarly, when taking 8-38 at Lord's in 2001 and 8-24 against Pakistan at Perth in 2004-05, McGrath defined the perfect bowling metronome. When capturing 30 wickets in the Caribbean in the 1999 Frank Worrell Trophy, McGrath personified consistency and control blended with aggression like arguably no overseas paceman ever. In the 2007 World Cup, McGrath blew all guns to capture a record 26 wickets.

Glenn McGrath ended his test career with 563 scalps at an average of 21.64 in 124 test matches, with 29 five-wicket hauls. Statistically, he was arguably the best of pace bowlers. In ODIs, he captured 381 wickets at an average of 22.02 in 250 matches. Praiseworthy that McGrath performed better in test matches overseas, averaging 20.81, compared to that of 22.43 at home. McGrath also had 72 scalps in Pakistan and Sharjah at an average of 23. In test matches won, he captured 414 wickets at an average of 19.19.

The factor that ranks McGrath so close to the top in the pantheon of the greatest of cricketers was the countless games his country won when he played. In 84 test matches McGrath played in, Australia triumphed. No pace bowler played in more winning test matches. The combination of McGrath and Shane Warne was the best ever pace-spin bowler partnership in the history of cricket, tallying 1001 wickets in 104 games together, with McGrath capturing 488 of them. When comparing the merits of McGrath amongst the all-time great pacemen, I would place him just a shade below Marshall, Lillee and Wasim, with all-round skill, versatility, and level of predatory urge my criteria.

For a place in an all-time Test XI, McGrath would be challenged by the likes of Malcolm Marshall, Dennis Lillee, Wasim Akram, Richard Hadlee, Dale Steyn and Curtly Ambrose. With a gun to my head, McGrath would just scrape in to join Marshall and Wasim. McGrath's accuracy and tenacity would perfectly complement the aggression and diversity of Wasim and Marshall.

McGrath has been ranked at 12th place in Christopher Martin Jenkins' selection of 100 best ever cricketers, 38th place by Geoff Armstrong, and 29th position by David Gower. Eight former cricketers chose McGrath in their all-time XI, including Jacques Kallis, Shane Warne, Wasim Akram, John Snow and Bob Willis. In my personal view, the rankings of Armstrong and Gower are more accurate, both giving the edge to cricketers like Wasim Akram, Dennis Lillee, Richard Hadlee, Imran Khan and Ian Botham, unlike Jenkins. McGrath was not as dynamic or possessed the 'X' factor of these cricketers mentioned.

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*Freelance journalist