Glenn McGrath

[ajithfederer]

we are talking about bowling here......... in bowling where is McGrath and where is Pollock........Mcgrath is a match winner he has won so many matches for australia ........and for southafrica so many other bowlers have come over the ages and pollock's pace has dropped and he has been taken on by the batsmen..........
Dont deviate away from the topic and talk about mcgrath here....

considering the overall performance shaun pollack is way ahead of

mcgrath.... he does contribute with the bat......

[ajithfederer]

deleted......

[ajithfederer]

del

[captain]

If Pollock had played the match is different, I'd say. McGrath and Pollock are two great bowlers but Pollock started to lose his skills to trouble the batsmen yet he mainted his economy. He was better than McGrath few years back. McGrath has been the pillar for Aussie success in the recent years, he was ahead of everyone including Pollock. In the first Ashes match, it was a McGrath show as he almost singlehandedly won the match for Australia. We saw what's Australia without McGrath in the second Ashes, when England made 400+ in single day. Then McGrath came back, still injured, struggled to trouble batsman. Since then McGrath was never at his best. One good thing that he can be proud of is that when he was not a part of those two test matches Aussie lost. It must be said that McGrath had good supporting bowlers like Gillespie and Lee to increase the pressure or at-least to maintain from other end. Australia is the best fielding side, no doubt, so it was an advantage for McGrath as they cut down the runs and took some brilliant catches.

After the retirement of Donald, Pollock didn't have any support from his team mates, so his decline is understandable. But now Ntini and Nel are improving rapidly, we can see the change in Pollock too. Pollock is back at his best, he bowled pretty well in India, then in Australia and now in the recent ODI series against Australia. His batting is also a plus. It's hypothetical. We can't guess who would've won if both, Pollock and McGrath, played.

In my opinion, if both had played then there's no difference in the result. McGrath almost lost it, is a doubt if he can make it to Ashes. Pollock is doing really well and he was the man of the series.

I, personaly, like both of them but think Pollock can bowl well under pressure while McGrath gets frustrated.

Pollock is better than McGrath at the moment.

[ajithfederer]

Captain i agree for most of ur comments but i certinly dont feel that pollock is better than mcgrath..............he has lost his incisive attack in bowling way back............he lacks the pace and precision of mcgrath.......thats all what i can say..........ok ending digression here.........

thanks for ur analysis on 1st match of the ashes series.......

hubbers are welcome to post ur views on mcgrath and his performances on matches........

[captain]

No. It's a fact Pollock is ahead of McGrath NOW. McGrath hasn't done anything after Ashes(first test). Pollock has been doing pretty well. In the last 12 months, Pollock is ahead of McGrath. Even McGrath lost his pace and can't bowl under pressure as he gets frustrated.

[ajithfederer]

Mcgrath is away looking after his wife.........and he is going through injuries also.......but whenever he comes back........he does it in style.......

[Ramakrishna]

Mcgrath and Pollock are similar kind of bowlers with similar line of operation - just outside the off stump.But Mcgrath has given more match winning performances than Pollock.Pollock has been consistent but not as aggressive as Mcgrath.

[captain]

Only reason is that Pollock is playing for SA and McGrath for Australia. Australia is full of match winners, so even if Mcgrath gets two wickets their team wins, while that's not the case for Pollock.

Let's say McGrath and Pollock get 5 for 50. Australia have a better batting line up so they're able to chase a target of 300 easily. McGrath will probably get the MOM award. For Pollock, that's not the case, SA probably will lose because of their batting line up that's not as great as Australia. That's all in general, please don't be particular about one or two matches.

I agree, both are great bowlers.

[Ramakrishna]

Only reason is that Pollock is playing for SA and McGrath for Australia. Australia is full of match winners, so even if Mcgrath gets two wickets their team wins, while that's not the case for Pollock.

Let's say McGrath and Pollock get 5 for 50. Australia have a better batting line up so they're able to chase a target of 300 easily. McGrath will probably get the MOM award. For Pollock, that's not the case, SA probably will lose because of their batting line up that's not as great as Australia. That's all in general, please don't be particular about one or two matches.

I agree, both are great bowlers.

You have a mentioned a good point.