ADELAIDE, Dec 12: Glenn McGrath has targeted South Africa’s most experienced player Gary Kirsten in the three-Test cricket series which gets underway here on Friday.

McGrath, Australia’s most prolific wicket-taking bowler behind Shane Warne, has made it a habit of making a bee-line for key batsmen in opposing teams.

In recent seasons he’s gone after left-handed batsmen, West Indian Brian Lara and India’s Saurav Ganguly as well as England’s Michael Atherton.

McGrath sees a psychological advantage in going after Proteas opener Gary Kirsten, his most popular South African victim.

“I don’t mind bowling to lefthanders and Gary Kirsten is the key to their lineup,” McGrath said Wednesday.

“I’ll target him because I’ve had a bit of success against him in the past.”

While the talk has been about using two spinners at Adelaide, McGrath said it wasn’t a bad ground for quick bowlers.

“I think there’s a bit in early but you still have to make the most of it,” he said.

“Then it flattens out and will turn a bit later as well as being a bit up and down.

“I don’t mind playing here — I think there’s plenty there for the fast bowlers.”

McGrath is coming off his worst series on record when he took only five wickets against New Zealand early this season at an average of 60 but he regards that as an anomaly.

“You’re bound to have one series that’s not as productive every now and again,” McGrath said.

“I was happy with the way I bowled. In Hobart and Perth I couldn’t have been much happier — it just would have been nicer to get a few more nicks.

“Sometimes you have to look beyond the results and look at the processes and I’m happy with the way I’m bowling.

“Everything’s going well — if I keep bowling the way I have been then I will take wickets.”—AFP