Aussie Meldrew

With well over 100 tests and an average in the very low twenties, there’s no disputing Glenn McGrath’s position as one of the finest Australian pace bowlers of all time, even if at 35 he’s beginning to look a bit frayed at the edges. It’s his judgement that’s the problem.

Almost as soon as he’d set foot in England, he was predicting a whitewash:

“I couldn’t be true to myself or my team-mates if I didn’t now say
we’re going to win 5-0.”

That, presumably, was the patriotism talking.

Five tests later, after a heroic and compelling series which culminated in England regaining the Ashes, Glenn and his mates slipped quietly out of the country while Michael Vaughan’s victorious side, understandably a little unsteady on their feet after a night of determined and uninhibited celebration, shared their joy with tens of thousands packed into Trafalgar Square.

And when the Australians finally landed, there were few to witness Glenn’s warm and generous tribute to the side that had outplayed them in every single test after the Lords encounter:

“They played some pretty decent cricket so they probably deserve it.”

Praise indeed. In fact, highly Meldrew, though scarcely victorious.

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