The Hindu : Sport : Lara the best, says McGrath

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Lara the best, says McGrath

Rates the Windies star slightly ahead of Tendulkar

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Melbourne: Glenn McGrath on Saturday named West Indies legend Brian Lara as the best batsman he ever bowled to in his international career, ``just slightly ahead'' of Sachin Tendulkar.

When asked to pick his toughest opponent in his 13-year-old career, McGrath picked Lara ahead of Tendulkar and said he was always driven to give his best when bowling against those two.

``To me it was always about how you went against the guys who were classed the best in the world,'' McGrath said here on Saturday after announcing he would quit international cricket after the World Cup in April next.

``I feel, personally, that on his day Brian Lara was probably the guy who was the standout, just slightly ahead of Sachin.''

Interestingly, McGrath has dismissed Lara 15 times in Tests, just four less than his biggest `bunny' Michael Atherton whom he claimed 19 times. He dismissed Tendulkar six times.

Greatest asset

The most successful fast bowler in Tests with 555 scalps, McGrath said his mental strength was his greatest asset.

``I feel what I actually did with the ball and the skill level — there's a lot of other guys out there who had more skills to swing the ball, do well with the ball. ``My strengths were my accuracy, hitting that same spot, the bounce I'd get and the mental side of the game.''

Career highlights

McGrath said there were too many career highlights to single out, but did mention a few of his individual milestones.

``Obviously playing your first Test (against New Zealand in Perth in 1993), the first Test wicket — seeing Mark Greatbatch nick the ball through to Healy. The first five-wicket haul in Test cricket, which was in Barbados, to take that first five-for really gives you that self-belief.

``And then to play at Lord's is an amazing thing in itself. Eight for 38 (in my) first game there is something I'll always remember and I couldn't go past my 61 in Brisbane and the catch (to dismiss Michael Vaughan) in Adelaide.

``I'm not sure if I'd rate those two points as highlights or miracles. If you ask my teammates, probably the latter,'' he laughed.

Low points

McGrath also talked about the three low points of his career — being the last man dismissed to hand South Africa a five-run win in Sydney in 1994, losing the 1996 World Cup final, and his accident before the Ashes match at Edgbaston last year when he injured his ankle after treading on a cricket ball. — PTI

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