The Official 2013 Ashes Thread

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Glenn McGrath: This Ashes is going to be a lot closer than people think

 

"I've dug a hole for myself," Glenn McGrath admits with a quiet laugh as, a week before the Ashes begin, he wonders if he can seriously offer his ritual forecast of a convincing Australian victory. The last time he and I did this amusing little dance, back in 2005, McGrath was still in winning form as one of the greatest bowlers in history and he was happy enough to predict another 5-0 whitewash. He didn't really expect it to be so easy, but neither did McGrath anticipate that England would regain the Ashes in the most tumultuous series of a career which spanned 124 Tests and brought him a record haul, for a fast bowler, of 563 wickets.

 

Australia have lost McGrath, Shane Warne and other outstanding players since then – and have spent 2013 in chaos. Last Monday, amid the circus, they fired their coach, Mickey Arthur, and replaced him with a man called "Boof". Yet the decision to appoint Darren Lehmann as their new coach could be the smartest idea Cricket Australia have had in a very long time.

 

McGrath, as astute now as he was magisterial on the field, is better equipped than most to comment on the recent fiascos. He is also intriguing company – whether reflecting on personal tragedy, fighting cancer or revealing a surprising new interest in contemporary art. Yet it feels imperative, in the predictable spirit of Ashes cricket, to persuade him first to cough up one of his assertive prophecies. It's never going to be "five-zip to us", not these days, but what is McGrath's hand-on-heart prediction?

 

"Um …" he hesitates, "when I was playing it was easy. But now I find it tough to make a prediction. I'm a very loyal, parochial Australian and I can never say we're going to lose a series. So I'm going to say it'll be a good, tough series."

 

McGrath has the grace to chuckle at his sidestep – but he is genuinely tickled when told that another old Ashes warrior, Ian Botham, has claimed that a 10-0 sweep for England is not inconceivable as this summer's series is followed by a five-Test return in Australia.

 

"10-0?" McGrath echoes in mock indignation. "I don't think people in Australia even have nightmares that bad. No, it's going to be much closer than people think. I have no doubts we can regain the Ashes – but if we get off to a bad start it could be a very long summer."

 

McGrath, once England's arch-tormentor, can expect some good-natured flak. "Oh yeah," he concedes, before joking: "But I've got a safety net to get out of the country after the first two Tests."

 

It used to be different. McGrath only lost four of the 30 Ashes Tests he played and, in his lethal targeting of England's best players – he dismissed Mike Atherton a record 19 times, no other batsman has fallen so often to the same bowler in Test cricket. Mick Jagger famously tagged him "a bastard" after he repeatedly reduced England to quivering rubble – whether taking 8-38 in his first Test at Lord's in 1997 or collecting nine wickets during Australia's crushing win in the opening match of 2005. He was 36 when, with his last ball in Test cricket, his final wicket virtually sealed the 5-0 demolition with which Australia yanked back the urn at the SCG in January 2007.

 

"You look at that side and over the next two years we lost seven players. That's going to knock any team in a big way," says McGrath. "But I wasn't aware of the extent they'd allowed things to slip until it all blew up in India in March. The way the 'homework' saga was handled was pretty poor. There was no way anything like that could have happened under Steve Waugh. There would have been no turning up late or not doing this or that. When you let that discipline slip you're going to have big problems on the field. We had some big personalities but they really pulled together."

 

He is withering about the 2am bar-room punch David Warner threw at England's Joe Root last month. "With Warner's track record it's blowing up in his face. He needs to weigh up how much he wants to play international cricket. If he does, he's going to have to be a lot more disciplined in his off-field behaviour."

 

McGrath was in India when he heard Arthur had been sacked. "I was surprised by the timing but the more I think about it the more positive it seems. Something had to happen because the way things were drifting it would have gone from bad to worse. Arthur had a good record with South Africa but I wasn't overly impressed by the decision to appoint him. That's the parochial Aussie in me again."

 

Lehmann, naturally, can be more readily trusted. "I played quite a bit with Boof and he's pretty relaxed. But he's also old-school. He was a class player and he's done great things as a coach. I've talked to guys who've played under him at Queensland and in the IPL and they all think he's great. Players warm to him and respect him and he brings out their best. That's what this team needs. I actually think Australia have got the players to perform pretty well and win back the Ashes – as long as the selectors have enough guts to pick the right team.

 

"Our bowling attack has been our strength for a long time but the top four batsmen have struggled. Chris Rogers brings a wealth of experience and he knows English conditions well. They should pick him. And now that Brad Haddin is No1 keeper again that experience and old-school hardness will be great for this team."

 

McGrath likes Australia's pace attack – highlighting Peter Siddle's "immense improvement as the leader", James Pattinson's "match-winning enforcer role", and Mitchell Starc's "left arm swing with the new ball". The Ashes, however, could be influenced most by an English opening bowler, Jimmy Anderson, whom McGrath speaks of in the vein of one master assessing another.

 

"He's undoubtedly a quality bowler. I was always quite a big fan but, years ago, Anderson struggled when he went overseas and bowled with the Kookaburra rather than the Duke ball. But he's now a great bowler wherever he plays. I'm just very impressed with the way Jimmy Anderson goes about his business."

 

McGrath is less effusive about the old enemy. "They're not a bad unit," he says of England. Such faint praise echoes McGrath's miserly streak as a bowler. "You look back at their 2005 team and they were very confident. Even a few years ago they deserved their world No1 ranking. But they've dropped off a little and they're not the same team of a few years ago. Still, they'll be quietly confident."

 

Before the first Ashes Test in 2005 McGrath had taken 499 wickets. He describes the ensuing match at Lord's, and that gripping series, from a deeply personal perspective. "My parents split up when I was 16," he remembers, "and, while Mum came to a few Tests, Dad didn't make many. So I was glad he was at Lord's. Dad thought it was incredible but he loved the crowd interaction most. He sat with the Aussies and on the first day – when [steve] Harmison was knocking us over – the crowd just gave it to the Australians. Then, when we came out and took quick wickets, the Aussies in the crowd gave it back to the English. Dad was fascinated. When I got my 500th wicket they found out he was my father and they were all congratulating him, both from Australia and England. The whole series was so vivid – even though, in my mind, the wrong team won."

 

McGrath laughs wryly but he is more modest when reminded that Australia only lost the two Tests which he missed through injury. "I dunno about that, mate. The thing that stands out for me was walking down the street and people coming up to me saying they'd never watched cricket before and suddenly they couldn't miss a ball. I remember Old Trafford on the last day [as Brett Lee and McGrath denied a rampaging Andrew Flintoff and Harmison in the final overs] when so many people couldn't get in. That atmosphere, and especially the cricket, made it the best series I ever played in."

 

Defeat was galling, but McGrath suggests, "we became a better side while England, having achieved what they wanted, fell away. We won the next Ashes, which was the last series for me and Warnie, 5-0. It was the perfect way to bow out."

 

His wife Jane died 18 months later, in June 2008, when her cancer returned with terrible vengeance. She and Glenn had set up the McGrath Foundation six years earlier and the growth of that charity to fund the nursing of breast cancer patients helped him accept her death when their children, James and Holly, were just eight and six. "The support has been incredible," McGrath says. "From four nurses we're now employing 84 and we've supported 20,000 families over the last four years. It blows me away."

 

McGrath remarried in 2011, after he met Sara in Cape Town. She was as oblivious as his first wife had initially been to his fame. When they first went out Jane used to be confused that, in public, people would shout McGrath's name. "Glenn's got a lot of mates," she observed. It needed one of Jane's best friends to explain to her that, "Glenn's as famous as Robert de Niro." The great fast bowler shrugs in amusement. "It was the same with Sara. She asked me what I did. I said: 'I play cricket.' She said: 'No, what do you do for a living?'"

 

Does he ever watch old footage of himself – just as a reminder to him and Sara of his exploits? "Sara is Italian, she grew up between the States and Sicily and she has lots of friends who know nothing about cricket. So there's a DVD we occasionally put on to show them what I did. But life has moved on."

 

Apart from riding his Ducati, which Sara's father brought him as an Italian-flavoured wedding present, and attempting to earn his helicopter license, McGrath is coaching fast bowlers in India and commentating. "When I retired there were two things I didn't want to do – coaching and commentating. Now I'm enjoying them both. Sara and I have also opened an art gallery, Mclemoi, in Sydney. We specialise in contemporary art. It's a natural progression from opening the bowling for Australia to running an art gallery, isn't it?"

 

Sara's enduring involvement in art has introduced McGrath to a new world – yet how does he replace the intensity of playing for Australia? "It's a tough one because nothing can match you being the man and going out there and doing the business. I loved everything that goes with leading the attack in international cricket. So, yeah, there's a hole but I still view myself as the same guy who left the countryside. I jump on my Ducati and escape the city. There's such freedom in that."

 

Riding his bike, on his own, McGrath is also spared having to make any more Ashes predictions. "Sometimes," he says with a last cackle, "that can be a bit of a relief…"

 

Glenn McGrath: This Ashes is going to be a lot closer than people think | Sport | guardian.co.uk

[TheBitch]

Shut up, Glenn.

[A_S]

The ECB can give players special clearance to play for other counties for the benefit of England.

 

Ah cheers, interesting that. The thought of Brad Haddin being allowed to play for Victoria against England in an attempt to oust Wade from the Aussie keeper's position.... :whistle:

[Paul]

 

Not that I am confident about winning the series' date=' because I am not, but I am fairly certain that there will be no whitewash. England showed as recently as the New Zealand tour that they can get a tad complacent at times, which has led to some ordinary batting performances that have often been saved by a very tight and on-song bowling unit.

 

Don't forget, this is 10 Ashes Tests in a row over a 7-month period, not a 3-Test series in July. So much can happen in that time. The 2005 series turned on its head when McGrath rolled his ankle on the morning of the 2nd Test FFS! All I can say is that if the English dressing room are already as supremely confident as some English supporters, they are in trouble.

 

All this said without the elephant about to barge into the room- recalling Ravi Bopara to the Test team! His form simply demands it and, given England have a hole in the middle order batting, it makes a lot of sense to me. The crowd at the Oval tonight thought so too. Go on England selectors, do it! :whistle:[/quote']

 

If you're saying an unprecedented sporting event is highly unlikely, you won't get any argument from me. I think it'd be worth a fiver though assuming the odds aren't laughable because, as I said, this is the most shambolic Aussie set up of my lifetime.

[A_S]

Incidentally, what is the general view of Darren Pattinson? As it would appear that young James has quite a strong view about his brother's one and only time of representing England.

 

James Pattinson wants Ashes vengeance | Cricinfo Magazine | ESPN Cricinfo

[Karma Pollis]

Incidentally, what is the general view of Darren Pattinson? As it would appear that young James has quite a strong view about his brother's one and only time of representing England.

 

James Pattinson wants Ashes vengeance | Cricinfo Magazine | ESPN Cricinfo

 

Can't say I have much of view beyond he shouldn't have been picked in the first place. It was a truly bizarre selection and he took a bit of a pounding in the press. For most followers he would be nothing more than a footnote in English cricket but I can understand if his treatment would give the younger Pattinson a bit more motivation.

[A_S]

Here's a rather disturbing graphic (if you are an Aussie!) about the relative decline in our batting in this country over the last few years. A group of 6 batsmen aged 35-45 and their stats shown up against the current batting group for the impending Ashes series (Clarke aside). It is quite grim reading and proof that you can sometimes just be born a decade too early....

 

35-45s

 

CHRIS ROGERS- 19,752 runs @ 50.71 from 240 F/C matches, 60 x 100's

 

DARREN LEHMANN- 25,795 runs @ 57.83 from 284 F/C matches, 82 x 100's

 

STUART LAW- 27,080 runs @ 50.52 from 367 F/C matches, 79 x 100's

 

DAVID HUSSEY- 12,703 runs @ 52.71 from 170 F/C matches, 42 x 100's

 

BRAD HODGE- 17,048 runs @ 48.81 from 223 F/C matches, 51 x 100's

 

MARTIN LOVE- 16,952 runs @ 49.85 from 214 matches, 45 x 100's

 

* Played a combined 1498 F/C matches for 119,330 runs @ 51.77

* Scored a combined total of 359 F/C 100's

* Have played a combined total of only 40 Tests (incl. Lehmann with 27)

 

Another thing to note is that Law's only Test score was 54no, Love's final score was 100no, Hodge's 67, David Hussey never got a chance and Rogers had to wait 5 years since his only Test for another chance in this series. Only Lehmann could be said to have been given a reasonable crack at it and he didn't go too badly, scoring 5 centuries and averaging 44.95. So none of these could be said to have been tried and ultimately failed, yet what do they have to show for it?

 

Compare that to the current crop of batsmen who haven't reached any great heights in their respective Test careers to date:

 

25-35's

 

SHANE WATSON- 8,059 runs @ 44.03 from 114 F/C matches, 18 x 100's

 

PHIL HUGHES- 7,627 runs @ 44.86 from 98 F/C matches, 21 x 100's

 

ED COWAN- 6,555 runs @ 39.72 from 98 F/C matches, 16 x 100's

 

DAVID WARNER- 2,264 runs @ 45.28 from 31 F/C matches, 6 x 100's

 

STEVE SMITH- 2,918 runs @ 42.28 from 44 F/C matches, 6 x 100's

 

USMAN KHAWAJA- 4,270 runs @ 42.27 from 65 F/C matches, 11 x 100's

 

* Played a combined 450 F/C matches for 31,693 runs @ 42.94

* Scored a combined total of 78 F/C 100's

* Have played a combined total of 114 Tests

 

The last batsman from this group to score a Test century was David Warner in Adelaide at the end of November 2012. Since then, there have been 8 Tests involving Australia, in which the only centuries have been scored by Michael Clarke (2), Mike Hussey (1- since retired) and Matthew Wade (1- dropped) :wallbutt:

 

It shows that someone needs to seriously up their game and give Clarke a hand or it could be a long couple of months. Thank goodness our bowling looks much healthier. :whistle:

[s(k)aturation]

I must say, in spite of forecast Aussie doom and gloom, I am rather looking forward to tomorrow.

There is nothing like an Ashes Series in England.

 

Apart maybe, from an Ashes Boxing Day in Melbourne.

[AJBlaikie]

I must say, in spite of forecast Aussie doom and gloom, I am rather looking forward to tomorrow.

There is nothing like an Ashes Series in England.

 

Apart maybe, from an Ashes Boxing Day in Melbourne.

 

That was a very enjoyable test last time it was played.

[sh#t waffle]

Excuse the shameless self promotion, but here is a little article I have written for the BBC on the first ever Australian side to tour the UK:

 

BBC News - Aboriginal cricket: The first Australian tour of England, 1868

[Pureblood]

Excellent, nice one.

[s(k)aturation]

That was a very enjoyable test last time it was played.

 

The carvery in the Long Room was splendid.

[A_S]

Can't wait for tonight, watching an Ashes Tour late at night is one of my earliest sports-related memories and my grandpa was a big part of that, as Dad would always take my brother and I to his place and we would all watch it together with the heater on and hot drink at hand. Nan would even get up in the middle of the night to cook us some bacon and eggs! We lost her in 2000 and Pop only last year, so this will be the first Ashes in England where I won't be able to sit, watch it and chat with the old boy. :(

[Pony Princess]

Just got tickets for me and my dad at old Trafford on the Friday. Looking forward to it, hope the weather is good.

[Hand Shandy]

Just going past the ground on my way to work.

 

It's currently a bit grey here, but muggy as hell - reckon it'll be scorching by the time they start play.

 

Bring it on you Aussie bastards!

 

* please note - I may be a little excited, therefore any offence caused to our Antipodean brethren should be taken with a pinch of salt. The thieving bastards...

[Ian Sea]

If we win the toss we have to bat. Fuck the bit of cloud cover, that will be gone by midday.

[Ian Sea]

Ashton Agar to make his Australia debut at 19 after 10 First Class games. Reminds me of a 90's England desperation pick. I guess Steve Smith will play as well as a bit of back up in the spin department.

[Captain Turdseye]

Let's have it. I'm not moving off the couch until Sunday, we'll have bowled them out twice by then.

[Captain Turdseye]

England win the toss and bat first.

[AJBlaikie]

Come on England!

[Ian Sea]

Half expected Cook to have a bowl then.

[Hand Shandy]

Let's have it. I'm not moving off the couch until Sunday' date=' we'll have bowled them out twice by then.[/quote']

 

Unfortunately I'm in work.

 

However, got Five Live on and I'm all set...

[s(k)aturation]

Best of luck, Lifey and all you other pommie cunts.

I'm sure you won't need it.

 

The Ashes. Fuckin boss.

[s(k)aturation]

England win the toss and bat first.

 

Toss?

What do mean by that inflammatory remark?

Are you trying to start something, CT, you provocative turd?

[s(k)aturation]

5 for at lunch.