Coming, as I am, back into blogging, I just went up to my feed reader, and found this, on Line and length. It’s a tribute to McGrath, and I agree with it. McGrath has been a phenomenal force for the Aussies – and set up a lot of victories for them. As Pratik says

McGrath has been outstanding against all opposition in all conditions all over the world. Apart from taking those crucial early wickets, he’s gotten vital breakthroughs virtually everytime his captain has turned to him. No batsman can claim to have had the better of him. He has kept the best batsmen of his time on a leash (Tendulkar), if not completely dominated them (Lara).

Apt write-up. McGrath doesn’t get his due credit for being such a huge pillar for the Aussie edifice. I remember wishing everytime we played the Aussies that someone would smack him outta the ground. And I saw it happening only once. Sachin and Saurav were batting – unfortunately they soon got out, and we lost the match, eventually. And it was this man that I always saw tormenting the opposition.