Mcgrath Spells Out What the Aussies Can Expect

“Anywhere you play, any sport you play, YOU GOT TO BELIEVE you are good enough to compete. And believe you are good enough to win. You got to be good enough to adjust to the conditions. Play better than the opposition,” Glenn McGrath tells S. DINAKAR in this chat.

Glenn McGrath played a pivotal role in Australia’s remarkable Test series triumph in India in 2004. Indeed, the pace ace, with typical precision, took out some big names. And the Aussies celebrated after conquering the Final Frontier.

That was a long time ago. The Aussies have won little in India subsequently. The batsmen have largely been clueless against the spin and the bowling, lacking teeth, has gone for plenty of runs.

McGrath, who was at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai recently to guide the aspirants, shared his memories from the past and his views on the coming four-Test, India-Australia series in a chat with Sportstar.

He comprehends the challenges faced by Steven Smith and his men. McGrath does see a sliver of hope for the Australians against an in-form Indian side if the squad displays the heart and the technique to adapt to the conditions.

Question: The Australian selectors have placed a lot of emphasis on spin. These spinners will be bowling to some pretty aggressive batsmen on the tour of India.

Answer: Lyon, O’Keefe, and Swepson could play a part, two of them could be picked in the eleven. I have seen young leg-spinner Swepson in pieces at the Academy. For Warne to think he has something special he must be okay. We will find out.

Obviously, Lyon is very experienced, he’s found a bit of form. O’Keefe bowled well in Sri Lanka before he got injured.

As a visiting pace bowler, what do you need to do to succeed in Indian conditions?

You have to be able to bowl to the conditions, adapt to the conditions. The new ball in India carries through okay and you look to take the edges, get early wickets. You got to have more men in the slips.