Published: Jan 11, 2016, 05:13 PM (IST)
Edited: Jan 11, 2016, 05:13 PM (IST)
Joel Paris, Australia’s left-arm pace bowler who will make his international debut in the first ODI against India tomorrow is honoured to wear Glenn McGrath’s jersey number on his shirt. Former Australian bowling great McGrath used to don the number 11 on his jersey. Paris is currently wearing No. 3 shirt for Western Australia, his domestic team. McGrath is considered one of the finest pace bowlers the world has ever seen and he was the best of his generation when it came to bowling an impeccable line and length. McGrath’s jersey No. 11 gained a lot of fame during his playing days. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: India vs Australia, 1st ODI 2015-16, at WACA, Perth
Paris was quoted by Cricket Australia’s official website speaking to radio station 4BC, “It’s an absolute honour to wear Glenn’s No.11 – hopefully I’ll do it justice.” McGrath was one of Paris’s cricketing idols. He also has high regards for McGrath’s predecessor Dennis Lillee. Talking of Lillee, he said, “I was obviously really young when he [Lillee] was at his best, but I’ve watched a lot of videos, a lot of DVDs. I’ve still got the ‘Miracle Match’ on DVD at home that I put on every now and then. Glenn McGrath was the modern one that I, not based myself on, but watched growing up and loved the way he used to go about his cricket. McGrath was a massive one when I was growing up and in the last two or three years having Mitchell Johnson around the squad in WA for bits and pieces has been fantastic as well. He’s been great. I’ve just tried to learn as much as I can off those type of guys who have got so much experience about the game.” READ: Joel Paris to don Glenn McGrath’s No. 11 jersey in India vs Australia 2016, 1st ODI at Perth
