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| May 01, 2007 | Tuesday | Rabi-us-Sani 13, 1428 |
McGrath yet to experience sinking feeling
SYDNEY, April 30: After retiring from international cricket on a high, Player of World Cup, Glenn McGrath, said he is yet to experience 'sinking feeling' of not playing for Australia again although he had two more years of cricket left in him.
McGrath, who finished with a record haul of 26 wickets in a single World Cup, revealed a Test selector wanted to take 'revenge' by dropping him.
“I've had a Test selector say he was disappointed he didn't get to axe me,” he wrote in a column for Herald Sun.
He continued: “Test selector Merv Hughes, always prankster, has a unique take on my retirement. Merv told me that as I effectively replaced him in Test side in 1994, he was looking forward to getting square with me by sticking knife in and ending my Test career.” However, Pigeon's place in Australian team was never seriously threatened.
“He (Merv) said he was disappointed I announced my retirement before he had chance to swoop. Merv, of course, was only joking,'' he said.
“But I must say I am pleased to be bowing out on my terms,” ace bowler added proudly.
About how he felt after calling it a day after playing international cricket for 14 years, he said, “It may not be until Australia plays again – in Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa in September – and I am not there that it will hit me that I will never wear my country's colours again.
“Physically and mentally I feel I could play on for another two years. But it's time. There are other priorities in my life ahead of cricket.
“It would have done no one any good to play on. The first thing I want to do is get away from it for a while, unwind and see what options come up. I feel I have a role to play in the game, but I want to have six to 12 months away from it,” he said on his future plans.
“I am pleased I am leaving game in good shape – there are lot of young fast bowlers coming through.”
Now serious advise for all aspiring McGraths, “My approach has always been simple. Less complex you make things less things can go wrong. I always tell youngsters if you can bowl 99 balls out of 100 that can hit top of off-stump you will take wickets. They always seem disappointed with that simple truth.”—Agencies
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