The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : `We will target Dravid, Laxman'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 27, 2004

Sport

Sport - Cricket

`We will target Dravid, Laxman'

MUMBAI, SEPT. 26. Three more Tests and Glenn McGrath would have made 100 appearances for Australia. "It's something special for an Australian cricketer, and also for others. The wear and tear in a fast bowler is much more and hence it's a fine record to have under the belt,'' said the Australian fast bowler who has 440 scalps in 97 Tests.

McGrath has played seven Tests against India and taken 37 wickets at a miserly 16.08.

The 34-year-old seamer said there was a certain advantage of getting to `reverse swing' the ball in Indian conditions. "I have enjoyed the challenge here,'' said McGrath, who has taken 18 wickets at 18.26 in four Tests in India.

Since making his debut some 11 seasons ago against New Zealand, McGrath has indeed come a long way. One of his best spells after a long lay-off was the five for 37 effort against Sri Lanka at Darwin recently.

McGrath said Australia would target Rahul Dravid and V. V. S. Laxman. "Laxman is a funny cricketer sometimes. He seems to do very well against Australia and not as well against other teams. He's a guy who we rate very highly and a prized wicket.

"Three years ago, he played an exceptional innings at the Eden Gardens. He plays all the shots in the book and he is a bit different from most Indian batsmen here because they tend to play with the spin.

"Laxman is quite comfortable playing across the spin — hitting Shane Warne through midwicket out of the rough - which I don't think many other batsmen would try or succeed as well as he did.'' — Our Special Correspondent

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport