War
Chairman of Selectors
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2010
- Online Cricket Games Owned
-
Was thinking about this the other day. Of course most people know that McGrath's breakthrough as an international bowler came during AUS famous series in the Caribbean 1995. After that he was undisputed AUS spearhead until retirement in 2006/07.
But as an AUS fan who saw basically ever test McGrath played from 1997 onwards (saw him bowl live @ Old Trafford in 97, 2005). Although he clearly was top quality operator from 1995-2006/07, IMO i think during those years his career had 4 distinct phases (ignoring his debut years before 1995)
PHASE 1: Windies 1995 (Barbados test) - S Africa 1997 (Port Elizabeth test)
This was when his breakthrough as international quality bowler occured. Him finding an ability to keep Lara quiet was the highlight of this period. But for all those who remember McGrath from this period no-one was calling Pigeon world-class during this phase - but rather a quality upcoming bowler. Donald, Ambrose, Akram, Pollock, Walsh, F De Villiers (maybe Bishop & Waqar to a degree still ATS) where the fellows considered the real big guns of fast-bowling in world cricket at that time.
PHASE 2: S Africa 1997 (Centurion test)/Lords 97 - Ashes 2002/03 (MCG test)
This was when he morphed into world-class mode. I personally noticed it during that Centurion test in SA 3rd Test: South Africa v Australia at Centurion, Mar 21-24, 1997 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo, when he took that 6 for & during his famous 8 for @ Lords 97. During this period he bowled with tremendous accuracy & his pace in this period was consistently between 85-89 mph (although at times he would drop between his trademark 80-82 mph), while he occasionally even touched 90 mph.
He also played every test AUS in this 5 1/2 year period until he suffered an injury during the back end of the 2002/03 Ashes.
PHASE 3: Windies 2003 - Bangladesh 2003.
Those dark couple of test post his 2002/03 Ashes injury wheren the great pigeon just looked lethargic due to that injury. This was the only phase of his career when he looked crap. Until he came back in 2004, has he recovered from injury, many people where even wondering if this was the end of McGrath.
PHASE 4: Sri Lanka 2004 (Darwin) - Ashes 2006/07.
The revival. He silenced doubters & was back bowling just as well as the 97-2002/03 period. Only difference now is that his pace was pretty much sub 85 mph (even dropping into the 75-79 mph bracket fairly regularly).
So based on this IMO id say McGrath of 97 -2002/03 was the 100% complete McGrath, bowling at his quickest - but still maintaining his trademark legendary metronomical accuracy. Thus i consider that his peak.
Thoughts??
But as an AUS fan who saw basically ever test McGrath played from 1997 onwards (saw him bowl live @ Old Trafford in 97, 2005). Although he clearly was top quality operator from 1995-2006/07, IMO i think during those years his career had 4 distinct phases (ignoring his debut years before 1995)
PHASE 1: Windies 1995 (Barbados test) - S Africa 1997 (Port Elizabeth test)
This was when his breakthrough as international quality bowler occured. Him finding an ability to keep Lara quiet was the highlight of this period. But for all those who remember McGrath from this period no-one was calling Pigeon world-class during this phase - but rather a quality upcoming bowler. Donald, Ambrose, Akram, Pollock, Walsh, F De Villiers (maybe Bishop & Waqar to a degree still ATS) where the fellows considered the real big guns of fast-bowling in world cricket at that time.
PHASE 2: S Africa 1997 (Centurion test)/Lords 97 - Ashes 2002/03 (MCG test)
This was when he morphed into world-class mode. I personally noticed it during that Centurion test in SA 3rd Test: South Africa v Australia at Centurion, Mar 21-24, 1997 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo, when he took that 6 for & during his famous 8 for @ Lords 97. During this period he bowled with tremendous accuracy & his pace in this period was consistently between 85-89 mph (although at times he would drop between his trademark 80-82 mph), while he occasionally even touched 90 mph.
He also played every test AUS in this 5 1/2 year period until he suffered an injury during the back end of the 2002/03 Ashes.
PHASE 3: Windies 2003 - Bangladesh 2003.
Those dark couple of test post his 2002/03 Ashes injury wheren the great pigeon just looked lethargic due to that injury. This was the only phase of his career when he looked crap. Until he came back in 2004, has he recovered from injury, many people where even wondering if this was the end of McGrath.
PHASE 4: Sri Lanka 2004 (Darwin) - Ashes 2006/07.
The revival. He silenced doubters & was back bowling just as well as the 97-2002/03 period. Only difference now is that his pace was pretty much sub 85 mph (even dropping into the 75-79 mph bracket fairly regularly).
So based on this IMO id say McGrath of 97 -2002/03 was the 100% complete McGrath, bowling at his quickest - but still maintaining his trademark legendary metronomical accuracy. Thus i consider that his peak.
Thoughts??
Yes he topped the run scoring lists with 450, but he also got to play many more innings than the Aussies. Gilchrist for example I don't think had a 2nd innings in the whole series compared to Butcher who always got both. Besides, Butcher only played one good knock in the series anyway when Gilchrist gave a sporting declaration in the 4th Test and Butcher made 170 odd. It was one of the only times McGrath looked mortal in the whole series. Take out that innings and Butcher averaged about 30 in the other 9 knocks. Man of the series indeed...
