April 13, 2008	Sunday	Rabi-us-Sani 6, 1429

NEW DELHI, April 12: Former legendary Australian paceman Glenn McGrath is stunned nearly half of current Australian team is willing to prematurely end their international careers to play for the cash-rich Twenty20 leagues in India.

“I read the report. I am surprised so many Australian players want to quit international cricket. The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a great opportunity, but I would be disappointed if the players put the IPL before their international commitments,” said McGrath, who joined Delhi Daredevils team.

A survey by the Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) recently revealed a startling 47 per cent of national players and 49 per cent state players would not hesitate to quit international cricket and join the IPL or rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) for big bucks.

“It would be good if there is a break in the Future Tours Programme (FTP) during the IPL so that the game is not affected,” he stated.

McGrath, who retired from international cricket after the 2007 World Cup, said he was looking forward to renew his rivalry with Sachin Tendulkar but added this (Twenty20) format of the game gives little master an edge over him.

“I am looking to bowl to Sachin. I enjoyed my whole career bowling to some of world’s best batsmen; I had some interesting battles with Sachin in the last 10 years and it’s 50-50 between us. But it might be 51-49 in Sachin’s favour now. Twenty20 is very much a batsmen’s game.

“I have been hit badly in ODIs. In 2001 I gave 61 runs in 5 overs against Pakistan.

“My aim here will be not to give more than 10 runs an over. Twenty20 is a different format; bowlers need to come with different types of deliveries, be prepared with a back-up plan.

“In ODIs I tried to keep it less than four an over, here it will be 10,” McGrath expressed.

The lanky pace bowler is more excited to play against Shane Warne with whom he has shared 1000 Test wickets and dressing room humour in their long careers.

“I look forward to match against Jaipur as playing against Warne will be interesting.”

—Agencies