McGrath still strikes fear in England's batsmen, says Buchanan by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Player:

GD McGrath

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DateLine: 18th August 2006

 

Australian coach John Buchanan said his team’s fast bowler Glenn McGrath, who is fighting his way back to full fitness, still strikes fear in England's batsmen.

 

McGrath, 37 in February and without a Test since last January after his wife's cancer scare, is doing six to eight training sessions a week to be fit for November's Ashes battle with England, starting in Brisbane.

 

Buchanan believes McGrath remains a potent force in the twilight of his 119-Test match career and deserves the new ball for the first Ashes Test at the Gabba on November 23. He also feels that the aura of McGrath, the greatest wicket-taking fast bowler in Tests with 542 wickets, still unnerves opposing batsmen.

 

“There is no doubt that for some of our older bowlers, like Glenn and Warney (Shane Warne), with age comes a lessening of some of the physical aspects of your game,” Buchanan said. “But more than out-pointing that is the experience and sense of aura guys like that bring to the team. Glenn has earned the respect of his opponents over time with all that he has achieved. That hasn't changed.”