Glenn McGrath: Sri Lanka a very challenging place for fast bowlers

Australia's one of the greatest pacers in the history, Glenn McGrath does not have the best memories while bowling in Sri Lanka.

Former Australian speedster, Glenn McGrath does not have the best memories while bowling in Sri Lanka. The weather conditions are usually rainy and Australia have not got much success. McGrath has 10 wickets from 4 Tests in Sri Lanka at over 29. He has not gotten over the freak accident of Steve Waugh and Jason Gillespie when they collided while attempting a catch. McGrath has meanwhile advised the touring India side and their pacers to bowl straight, quick and full in order to get success in the island nation, alongside he also mentioned that the nation will not be a good place to bowl for the pacers. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: India vs Sri Lanka 2017 – 1st Test at Galle

“Whenever someone asks me about Sri Lanka, those images come flooding back into my mind, blood dripping from Steve’s nose and Jason writhing in pain. It wasn’t an entirely different experience [in the subcontinent]. Sri Lankan pitches are more or less like the ones in India and Pakistan. The rules are much the same – you have to optimise the new ball, and then wait for the ball to reverse. Yet, it wasn’t quite the same [like India and Pakistan]. There was relatively more help in pitches, especially in the first session, when the ball does hem around a bit,” he said to The Indian Express.

“The difference was with the lengths. They bowled a lot fuller and cleverly changed the angles. However, if you keep on bowling full and not manage to swing the ball, they will cream you for boundaries. So you have to be aware of how the pitch is behaving at that particular point and be adaptive. Invariably, you have to mix it up a bit and think on the feet, and tweak your plans a little bit,” he added. VIDEO: Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri speak ahead of India’s tour to Sri Lanka

During Australia’s previous tour of the nation, Mitchell Starc was pretty impressive, claiming 24 wickets at an average of 15. However, he does not expect any other pacer to replicate him anytimme soon. “He is in a different league among the current crop of pacers. He operates at great pace, has a lot of variations and is very aggressive, which is very important for any fast bowler, or any bowler for that matter. In the subcontinent, it’s always useful to have an out-and-out fast bowler, who can keep on bowling full at the stumps at top pace. Such bowlers take the pitch out of the equation. Dale Steyn was another,” he said.

Speaking on Umesh Yadav, who bowls similar lengths as Starc and Dale Steyn, he said, “I’m impressed by the way he has improved in the last few years. He has become more reliable and consistent. What I like most about him is his aggression. Hopefully, he will be used in short bursts, where he gives four-five high-intensity overs and a couple of wickets, like the way we used Brett Lee in the subcontinent.” Ashwin: Shastri is exuberant, while Kumble is methodical

“Overall, India has a very good bowling unit, as it had been in the last few years. There’s also variety, someone like Bhuvneshwar Kumar who can be swing the ball both ways, Mohammed Shami is really proficient with reverse swing, and Ishant Sharma is vastly experienced. Then you have people like Varun Aaron and Jasprit Bumrah and youngsters like Basil Thampi coming up,” he says.

And he winds up his assessment of India’s pace-bowling stock with an observation as candidly stinging as his well-weighted delivery. “When India tour overseas, it’s seldom been about the resourcefulness of their fast bowlers, but rather the adaptability of their batsmen,” the Australian legend concluded.

About the Author