So why do I feel that Glenn McGrath might be under apprieciated? Well, for a start, Shane Warne has overshadowed his entire career. To the Australian cricket public, bowlers are the people's heroes, not the batsman, and Warne's dazzling persona, deeds and controversy have kept the spotlight firmly on him. Aesthetically, to watch Warne in operation is a visual feast for the spectator or the television viewer, his wiles, legbreaks, and cunning provide far more drama then McGrath's robotic accuracy.

Not that Glenn McGrath begrudges Warne his fame. It is impossible to tell looking in from the outside, but McGrath seems to be the ideal team man, rejoicing in the success of his collegues as much as his own. Despite the Golden Boots that McGrath sported to celebrate his 500th Test wicket, McGrath is at heart a modest man, not given to blowing his own trumpet. When talking to the media, although he is open about his bowling goals when asked, he seems more animated talking about his ever-improving batting feats.

Not the least of it might be that he's not a 'traditional' fast bowler. He has always been about line and length, getting it there and thereabouts outside off stump. It's noticeable how rarely he bowls the bouncer. He's never been express pace, usually hovering between 130 and 135 kmph, fast enough for his height to extract bounce on a good length, but not so fast that he loses control. Only in his sledging does he resemble the traditional stereotype of the Australian fast bowler, and even that seems to have faded with the passing of time.

But there is no doubt of his place in Australia's cricketing pantheon. He is part of the "Holy Trinity' of great Australian fast bowlers, together with Ray Lindwall and Dennis Lillee.

Ray Lindwall was the spearhead of the Australian attack from 1946 and he kept on going until he was 38, playing his last Test in India. He was Bradman's spearhead in the 1948 Invicibles tour, with a lovely action and mastery of swing and seam. He was way ahead of his time in terms of physical preparation, and if the Second World War had not delayed the start of his career, he might have taken quite a few more then 228 wickets at 23.03

Ray Lindwall was before my time, of course, so I never saw him play. But I am old enough to remember seeing Dennis Lillee, who was Australia's spearhead from 1971 to 1984. Alan McGilvray, who saw most of the Test careers of both men, said that he couldn't pick who out of the two was the greater bowler. Lillee was a ferocious competitor, who loved the limelight and the heat of the battle. Originally a tearaway quick, he moderated his pace somewhat after a crippling back injury nearly derailed his career. I remember him as a master of exploiting a batsman's weakness and he was particularly strong at extracting seam movement off the pitch.

McGrath himself grew up idolising Dennis Lillee, and has modestly said that Lillee was a better bowler then he was, but I doubt that. I'm not the only one; Peter Roebuck has also suggested that McGrath is, at the very least, right up with Dennis Lillee as a bowler.

Statistics don't tell the entire story, of course, but I would argue that this is an age of truly great batsmen all around the world, so to average less per wicket then Lillee in such an era speaks for itself. Yet while Glenn McGrath is a popular and respected member of this great Australian cricket team, I do feel that he is not given his due. We are not going to see his like again, and Australians will miss him when he is gone.

Right on the button, mate! None better than this man Down Under. Who says anything else? Must be noises from the asylum. Ask non-Aussies, and they will tell u. He bowls at 80 mph, but the picture of his complete dominance of the batsmen's psyche will be clear if you try taking a poll amongst leading batsmen to have a one-on-one with him by playing 6 balls. You'll see from their face all that he is capable of sending down these days with numerous extra skills at disposal, acquired at the typical tight-fisted expense of a little pace.

He may just be the only cricketer, Mr. 99.94 NOT excluded, anywhere who never had an Achilles heel to his craft and always performed very near his best.

As much as it hurts me to admit it, when you add to these already impressive statistics the fact that McGrath targets (and usually gets) the opposition's best players and captain, he must surely rank amongst the greats.

If though, he does not get the same admiration (or attention) as Warney, then you'd have to say it boils down to personality. I don't think I heard McGrath speak for the first 5 years of his test career?

Hmmm...

For me, "The Pigeon" is the best there is now. And I don't wanna start a conflict by mentioning my viewpoints about Mr. 99.94 here.

Scott,

great debut. My only quibble: bowlers are the people's heroes? I think you're channelling JH and the battlers he never knew. Those of us who know cricket know that bowlers win Test matches, but the people? Let's be snobbish for a bit - you know that you know more about the game than the average punter.

And I'm with you on McGrath. A good friend, who has, shall we say, been "close" to one of the fast bowlers in the Australian team, assures me that Glenn is one of the most genuine blokes you'd ever want to meet.

There you are: genuine hearsay, on your first cricinfo blog post ...

Heartening to hear that bowlers are the folk heroes in Australia. Goes some way in showing why we in India produce batting gods (or demi-gods) at a dime a dozen, but fewer bowlers of repute. Even Kapil Dev was (IMHO here) such a darling of the crowds more due to his uninhibited batting than his bowling.

McGrath's greatness could be measured in his performance against the best batsmen of the teams he has played against, say an Atherton or a Lara or a Sachin. And if I could offer one other reason for the relative lack of appreciation, it is in the way he gets his wickets. As he himself says, he bores the batsman out with his metronomic accuracy (ah, the familiar cliche again!), rather than stunning them with brutal pace or bamboozling them with extravagant swing. While Warne's art (a huge legspin, the sudden straighter one, the zooter, the bouncer and what not) is a visual spectacle, McGrath's could be seen as more workmanlike and business-as-usual.

A similar example would be Anil Kumble. Even accounting for the natural appreciation for batsmen in the subcontinent, if you compare him with other modern greats with the ball, you find him is a McGrath-esque position in terms of popular glory. Akram's late swing, Younis's toe-crushing yorker, Murali's (and Saqlain's and Harbhajan's) doosra, Shoaib's blistering pace and even Pathan's floppy hair and banana-swing... are visual spectacles. The accuracy of Kumble hardly is. Ditto McGrath.

People forget the fact that "It is the bowlers who win test matches and the batsman only save the matches".Australia owes it success in the last decade to Mcgrath and warne.

Oh!man the accuracy with which he bowls is mind boggling.To target the opposition captain or the best batsman in their team even before the series starts and to do that for many years is simply awesome!.His career is a lesson to all bowlers that accurate bowling is more powerful than agressive bowling.

True that people get carried away by the personality of warne but people who understand their cricket will never forget to give mcgrath his due.

Truely he ranks among the top echelon of fast bowlers

The greatest thing about him is his record against the best players of the cricket ball. I really doubt if there is any single batsman (apart from Michael Vaugh) who holds the upperhand against him. I will highly grateful to cricinfo if they publish an article showing McGrath's test average against the best players, e.g., Tendulkar, Dravid, Lara, Kallis, Injamam. All of them averages more than 50. But what is their average aginst McGratah (individually)? I know it's a toughy to find that out. But I'm still hopeful and looking forward.

It's incredible to think how late in life he bagan fast bowling, and with his very economical action, how many more years he could bowl for, if he maintains the hunger.

Mcrath is the best--greater than Lillee or Lindwall.

Mcrath is the best--greater than Lillee or Lindwall.

I totally agree with you guys
McGrath probably has been
the best pace bowler since the last one and a half decade.

The way in which he gets the best batsman of the opposition out is the best part about his bowling.
It's either caught by the wk,clean bowled or lbw.

Some of his bowling spells are worth watching again and again!!!!!!!!

Mcgrath is the best fast bowler there has been. To often a lack of respect goes his way. He is not super fast and does not have a secret weapon, however he is a match winner and has the 2nd(1% less than 1st) best top order dismissal percentage of all time (2nd to Alan Donald, although Mcgrath has taken another 200 wickets). Time and time again. We owe the last decade of success to Mcgrath, in terms of winning matches he has been more important than Warne. I just love seeing him with the new ball in hand, top order batsman beware.

OOH AAH! GLENN McGRATH! If you have a look at McGrath's career records in both forms of the game, you will find he is always amongst the top 5 whether its Average, Economy rate, Wickets/match, Strike rate. The most important difference between McGrath & Warne is that, McGrath removes the top order, while Warne thrives lower order wickets. Can anyone throw more light on this by providing the statistics please.
Not taking anything away from Warney, but McGrath is definitely better and more valuable.

What about Richard Hadlee? 400+ wickets in 82 tests

IT seems over the opiniopns that I have read thus far that accuracy although appreciated is somehow frowned upon. Any one of us could reel off several bowlers who can wing the ball over the 21 yards at a scary pace, but less who can get it on a sixpence every tme of asking.
Therefore I am saying this- Glenn MacGrath shouldn't be a great bowler even though it is because he bores the batsman into forcing a shot. He should be great bowler BECAUSE he bores the batsman into forcing a shot.
A greatt sportsman, Rooney et al, is not merely an athlete, but a sportsman with an incredibly good sporting brain...
Mc Grath falls sublimely into both categories...a sporting icon, and Australian legend

A few years after McGrath retires, we will forget about his personality, charisma, etc. (or lack thereof). Then, we will only remember how great a bowler he was and he will get his due then.

Sometimes greatness of such people is evident only in hindsight. Two great examples of this are Jack Nicklaus (the golfer) and Sunil Gavaskar.

Shane Warne only comes in after Glenn has cleaned up the top order to mop up the tail. Big deal.

i love mcgrath to take 700 wickets and he is capable of reaching this event and more about him is that no other bowler can match him in case of accuracy may be in australia or other country

Ooo! Aah! Glen McGrath / Ooo Aah! Glen McGrath - Get his due? you're kidding - any genuine Aussie cricket fan knows his worth. For me he's all the better for his personality type. For fans like me a sporting idol is some one you want to be like both in and out of the game. think Taylor, Waugh, Voss, Hird. Warne will never be that person. If you rate his due by the amount of media mentions then that is a different stroke.

Mc Grath is the greatest. He has always said that line and length is key to his success. This is true and every fast bowler knows this, however none can match McGrath when acting out this role. Warne has his place in history and by all means Glen should have his as well. He is truly the gratest fast bowler in the last decade and a half.

Glenn "Death" Mcgrath. This is what I would call him. Not meaning anything derogratory by the word death. It is just to replace the serenity, the calmness and the ultimate loss of life is what can be equated to His (note the caital 'H' as used to adress Him) accuracy and the way he kills(claims his victims).

He surely is the best on display. He is your moneys worth, if you appreciate the art of cricket.

Many more years to go before hangs His golden boots.

Personally, I feel McGrath is better than Warne. Warne has thrived against those batsmen whose credentials against leg-spin have been doubtful to say the least - England, SA, WI, but not that well against those like Indians or Sri Lankans. Plus, a large number of his wickets are of lower order batsmen. McGrath on the other hand has bowled well against the best (top order) and also done well against all the teams. So purely going by his performance against the best, he scores higher than any other bowler. Shane is Great. Glenn is Greater.

5-0, 5-0, 5-0, what was all that about?

Great bowler, I accept, but calling us, the English, arrogant? Unbelievable.

He will never win hearts, as opposed to minds, as long as he acts the boorish way he does.

Viz. Sarwan / West Indies / virtually every game he played in county cricket. Etc. etc. etc.

murali is the best

Yea you are quite right Glenn McGrath is simply one of the best fast bowler of modern era. But I still feel that as a fast bowler he should be more aggressive then what he is or what he was.

All of this proves something. That without Warne and McGrath we're stuffed. We witnessed in the summer how much of a loss McGrath will be to us. I work in England and am petrified of the consequences of England's tour if we have no McGrath. Gillie has had his day, and Lee seems incapable if he's not in the same side as McGrath.

Pidge is a legend - in my mind the greatest Aussie fast bowler I've seen.
The best I'ver seen is Richard Hadlee but only just - Pidge is exceptionally close. As for Mr 99.94 (as a few have said) - love him or hate him his record speaks for itself. As Denis Compton once said Bradman is the sort of cricketer you find not once in a lifetime but once in the lifetime of a game.

All of this proves something. That without Warne and McGrath we're stuffed. We witnessed in the summer how much of a loss McGrath will be to us. I work in England and am petrified of the consequences of England's tour if we have no McGrath. Gillie has had his day, and Lee seems incapable if he's not in the same side as McGrath. So where are the wickets coming from ?

McGrath is a great fast bowler...without going into any comparisons. IMO its not possible to compare players. He's better in one aspect, while someone else may be better in another.

He probably has the best 'results'..if thats all that matters in annointing someone the 'greatEST'.

From a batsman's point of view, I'm sure many of his contemporaries would rate some other bowlers as equally, if not more, difficult to face.

From a viewers point of view I'm sure many would rate some other bowler as a provider of a better spectacle.

From a captain/team point of view I'm sure many would want a different bowler for a different condition (e.g. a dead flat track on a subcontinent?).

Anyway...I hope I've conveyed the idea..

His stats against the top batsmen - courtsey statsguru

MA Atherton (RHB) 19 0 8 10 0 1 0 9.89 3 Eng
BC Lara (LHB) 15 1 5 7 0 2 0 41.40 2 WI/ICC
SP Fleming (LHB) 8 1 1 2 0 4 0 23.25 2 NZ
G Kirsten (LHB) 8 1 3 2 0 2 0 14.00 1 SA
JH Kallis (RHB) 6 0 2 3 0 1 0 9.83 0 SA
SR Tendulkar (RHB) 6 1 1 1 0 3 0 22.16 2 Ind
MP Vaughan (RHB) 6 2 0 3 0 1 0 21.00 1 Eng
R Dravid (RHB) 5 1 3 1 0 0 0 10.00 3 Ind/ICC
Inzamam-ul-Haq (RHB) 5 0 3 1 0 1 0 23.80 1 Pak
ST Jayasuriya (LHB) 5 0 2 0 0 3 0 8.40 2 SL

The only one who has a good record against him is ofcourse laxman
VVS Laxman (RHB) 5 0 5 0 0 0 0 82.40 0 Ind

McGrath is what makes this Australian team great. I remember the time when all Waugh had to do was throw the ball to McGrath and he would get a wicket. Time after time again. No contemporary batsman has ever gotten the better of him. And unlike Warne, who hasn't been nearly as effective in India as elsewhere, McGrath has been the shining star of this team all over the world. His powers have waned with age, but his performances are still better than any other contemporary medium-pacer. McGrath's departure will do a lot to gap the huge divides between Australia and the rest of the world in the ICC Test Championship table.

Pratik
http://yorker.wordpress.com

I am a great admirer of McGrath's skills considering the economy of his action, and unerring accuracy that is so difficult to master. However, I would like to ask another question. How does the audience compare McGrath to Wasim Akram?

No doubt, McGrath is awsome. In my opinion he has been a more valuable bowler for Australia then Warne. Look at his record all around the world, to all the great batsmen. Warne has never had the success against the Tendulkas and Laras that McGrath has. A true champion!

The difference is the limelight. To me, Warne seeks attention and gets it. McGrath just wants to play his cricket and win the match each and every time. He is far more focussed about his career and sometimes those focussed with their tasks, may seem boring to many. In the end McGrath is the man to be reckoned with. He is certainly the best bowler I have ever watched and admired. His accuracy and clever bowlingcertainly does not ring the word "Boring." This is not the word i would choose because he has targets, he has plans for every batsmen, especially for the ones who claim to be amongst the best. And what's more is that he actually warns them before matches and series and actually proves it as well. What else can one ask of a bowler? There is no way one can claim his bowling to be boring. He is simply a different person than Warne. He is the good boy of the team.

yes glenn is great.When he retires the Australian team will not have it as easy as they do now. With glenn in the team they are great. Without him they are just good. He's better then anything we've ever had and its quite possible that we dont get anyone as good ever again. We will only realise how good he is when we dont have him. Lets soak up what we can while we have it because, it will not last for ever.

I couldn't agree anymore with the concept that McGrath is one if not the greatest fast bowlers ever. McGrath's reputation as one of the greatest fast bowlers is further enhanced by the fact that he doesn't bowl super fast (I would argue that he should be called a medium pacer :)) and that he just sticks to the basics of bowling line and length. His keeps his bowling simple (i.e. on a good length outside off stump)and that's why he is so successful. When McGrath does eventually hang up the bowling boots I do hope that every cricket follower celebrates and appreciates Glenn McGrath, not only as a bowling metronome but as a great ambassador to the game and as an inspiration to all.

Having just read his career stats I have to admit that his record is nothing short of amazing. He has a bowling average of 21.30 against India in their own yard -- now that takes some doing. To be perfectly honest, I've never liked Mcgrath as a person -- infact I wholly detest him and his smug, smarmy persona. I'm conviced as other posters are, that it's his personality that has prevented him from getting the lime light he deserves. But frankly, who cares about personality and what others think when you have a record like he does!

I don't like him one bit as a person and no, it's not because he's 'too good'. He's still a legend though but I'm not gonna shed any tears over his not being able to steal the limelight from Warnie. Infact, it couldn't have happened to a 'nicer', smarmier bloke :)

I agree, McGrath is an excellent bowler (wicket taker). I however disagree that he is better than Warne (or Warne is better) simply on the fact that you just can’t compare a “class” spinner to a “class” quickey in terms of "who is better". He is certainly up there with the "best of the best".

For all you people with short memories:

You might want to see how Warne fared in the recent Ashes series as well as the series against Sri Lanka earlier this year. Only gets tail-end wickets and can't bowl to sides that play spin well? Oh please!

P.S. McGrath more than gets his dues from my (many) cricket loving mates here Down Under.

McGrath is awesome. He shows that accuracy is more important than great show. Australia's record in test series without him and Warne has not been good, and when they retire, Australia will come back to the field fast.

He has been the best bowler in the world for the last 15 years, only Alan Donald coming close. However bowlers such as Richard Hadlee, Curtley Ambrose, Joel Garner, Malcolm Marshall were certainly up there with him. If you ever saw Garner or Ambrose at their best, or Hadlee, you would know what I mean. They could destroy a batting line up before you can blink.

Pigeon is the best fast bowler ever Full Stop!

I've a simple yardstick for quicks: subcontinental performances. And thats where lillee (6 wkts in 4 tests at 67) loses out.
And jolly ol' glenn is second only to hadlee. Even better than Monster Macko, albeit by a 1 wkt margin.
Hadlee 13 test, 68 wkts at 22
Mgrath 19t, 72 wkts at 23
Marshall 19t, 71 at 23
walsh 17t, 77 at 21

End of discussion.

No one can deny the fact that, Mcgrath is the greatest bowler in modern cricket.i remember him in 1999 world cup when he got tendulkar out for a duck with a beauty of a ball.tendulkar might have had so many records, but when it comes to facing mcgrath, he is of no good. mcgrath is much better bowler than warne for me. he is a true example for all the aspiring fast bowlers from all over the world. he proved his greatness with a beautiful line and length, simple bowling action.It's an awesome spectacle when mcgrath's bowling.All i can say is , he is a living legend

Great bowlers can look pretty ordinary if they get no support from the others in the attack. The current crop of Aussie "Invincibles" are blessed with an attack with no parallel in the world right now. But all said and done, nothing can take away from McGrath for what he has given to cricket in general and Australia in particular, I saw him bowl once, and not even the wizardy of Warne gave me such delight. A true champion, he is one of my heroes after Sachin. He has acheived what many pretenders could only dream of. True most of the celebrated fast bowlers were before my time but for me there has not been a better faster bowler,and yes I did consider the Donalds , the Pollcks, the Goughs, the Akthars, and the many outsiders before I put this down.Lets enjoy what this master class has to offer while he is still at it. There may not be one like him for a long time to come. I would hate to watch him on an episode of Cricket Classics with a voice in my head, 'I will never see him bowl like that again'.Stats are for the fans but for true lovers of the game its always the art and the artist. No wonder I find myself getting up at 2am, just to catch a glimpse and to imagine.

McGrath has shown many attributes that define truly great sportsmen. He adapts, reinvents himself, and is able to handle the troughs as well as the heights of success. Over the years, as he has consistently accumulated wickets, McGrath has improved his batting and ground fielding and he took one of the most stunning outfield catches ever. But I bet opening batsmen around the world fear McGrath more than any other bowler because he has a diverse repertoire of deliveries. Batsmen are not 'bored out'!! They find it difficult to pick up the length, and he does enough with the seam and varied bounce to trouble the best left and right handers in the world today. Because of this variation and his ability to deliver 6/6 accurately, he has been able to pick up wickets consistently on all types of pitches. DKL was the same; Sir RH was not!

Even when he bowls in the sub-continent he gets the top order.He might not get consistent 5-vers but he gets the openers and that provides enough breather for the other bowlers.Strike rate never lies,and its a clear indicator of how good he is.Whether he had the ball skills as Akram or a Kapil - No one cares because he was consisntent and seldom (maybe never) erratic.

Indeed, McGrath is a great bowler. But alas, he is probably the worst sportsman ever. He is even less of a human being. For him, everything concerning him is sanctimonious and everything concerning opponents is rubbish. He can abuse, sledge, torture and attack anyone but he cannot take even a bit of his own medicine---remember Sarwan vs McGrath. I have absolutely no respect for him and consider him as scum of the earth, altough I admit he is one of the greatest bowlers ever to have played cricket!

mcgrath may have been slightly overshadowed by warne's genius, charisma and headline grabbing feats on and off the field... but any learned cricket supporter understands and appreciates his skills. he's an amazingly intelligent bowler and executes plans perfectly which can only done if backed by exceptional skill for a plan to be successful. a captain's dream bowler.

he may not have the typical fast bowler stereotype of aggressive and intimidation but he doesn't need it because all batsman know that he's the best and that they have to work for every single run.

still the number 1 fast bowler. ever

Played for Worcestershire in 2000 where I saw him week after week. The whole team knew we were in the hunt as long as Pidge had the ball.

Did for Alamgir Sheriyar what he does for Brett Lee i.e brought the best out in his fast bowling partner. "Gir" took 100 wickets and topped the county averages (from no-where) that season, and sadly has not really figured since.

It's the pressure McGrath puts on the whole opposition - he gets wickets for his partner while he's grazong down at fine leg.

Superb bowler, one I'm proud to have seen.

He really is a great bowler but not a hall of famer like the great Wasim Akram he is the best in bussiness & there is no question about that.

Interesting comments, but entirely disagree that 'Glenn McGrath does not get his dues'. Are you kidding me?

No,he's NOT been in anyone's shadow. Proof of that is that Glenn McGrath's the only bowler who'd pick a batsman before a series, acknowledge it in press and make the batsman his bunny.

Before the Ashes, he DID say 5-0 Aussies. Now, NOT taking anything away from Michael Vaughan and his team, I wonder if things would have been different had the freakish little accident would not have happened.

No, everyone appreciates McGrath. Yes, Shane Warne's bowling is a spectacle, but that's not saying that McGrath's "boring or un-appreciated." That's like saying, Clive Lloyd, Desmond Haynes et al were un-appreciated because of a certain IVA Richards in the 70's team of the Windies! Glenn's great, we all love and respect him for his work on the field, and to be honest, I dig his sense of humor off the field!

And yes, IMHO, he is THE greatest fast/medium bowler of all times. Yep, greater than Windies big 4, Lillee, Thomson, the W's, Hadlee- you name them! Hope he's around till the next Ashes. The competitor that he is, must be dying to get back at the English batsmen!

I think Mcgrath is definitely right up there with the best of all time.In modern day cricket he's currently the best of the whole lot. Think about it .Pollock's gone off the radar,donald and the 2 W's have retired. Lee and Ntini are yet to prove they can shoulder the spearhead mantle.The english quicks are too early into their careers to place them in the pantheon of the greats and Bond isnt even in the team half the time.So among modern contemporaries the Narromine lad really is king

By the same yardstick should Warney also be measured. His performance against India is a meagre 43 wickets in 14 tests with just one 5 wkt haul. Very average I would say - against the best players of spin in the world, which Indian batsmen are.
Mcgrath is pure diamond - peerless and effective in any condition against the best batsmen from any country

By the same yardstick should Warney also be measured. His performance against India is a meagre 43 wickets in 14 tests with just one 5 wkt haul. Very average I would say - against the best players of spin in the world, which Indian batsmen are.
Mcgrath is pure diamond - peerless and effective in any condition against the best batsmen from any country

I would rate Mcgrath just after the great Akram...

5 Top fast bowlers of all time....

Wasim akram
C. Ambrose
D.lillee
Gmcgrath
M.marshall

I don't think McGrath can be better than Captain Vijaykanth.
ANANTHA(aNTi), what is your opinion?

I don't think McGrath can be better than Captain Vijaykanth.
ANANTHA(aNTi), what is your opinion?

indeed glen mcgrath is to me the best fast bowler in the world.i am a great cricket lover and i follow australia so much.but whenever australia wins the focus is on the batsmen but yet if you observe mcgrath counts in most if not all.i respect the line and length concept that why he is the best and taken so many wickets.

In my opinion he is a great bowler, he may not be very animated but his stats speak a 1000 words. One actually finds it difficult to absorb the basic facts that Glen is economical in every game & added to that is he is a wicket taker. He has an excellent cricketing brain which gives him an edge over his fellow fast bowlers. In comparison to Warne - They compliment each other, as the other comments suggest, Warne is a better bowler to the lower order as oppose to Glen who can destroy 1-11 in any line up. Keep it up Glen - Im a avid SA supporter though.

I dont know much about Australia's publion opinion about Glen, but to me he is THE BEST, showcasing how to bowl fast without much fuss. To me, he is the silent predator and Silent is usually Violent.

How about this list ?

Holding
Waqar younis
Marshal
Wasim akram
Ambrose
Imran khan
...

just compare with IMRAN KHAN, WAQAR YOUNIS, WASIM AKRAM and even VASS on subcontinent dead pitches... then you will know who is the great...
McGrath no where near to them ...

subconitnent dead picthe are the test case .. that why lelli is not great ...

i thibnk mcgrath is very illmannered person. he may be the greatest bowler o all time but he is also the worst characrer on the earth.

I totally agree with what has been written, but i would also like to point out that Shane Warne is not all about controversy, dazzling persona and showmanship and Wrane has the numbers to prove this. So yes Glenn Mcgrath is a great bowler but its his luck maybe that he has even competition and that too from his own team mate. Kind of reminds me about Wasim nad Waqar undoubtedly the Kings of swings but somehow Waqar was always under Wasim's shadow.

Pretty much a rubbish article. I doubt there is a cricket fan in the world who does not think McGrath is one of the world's top pace bowlers, and certainly no Aussie cricket fan who does not think he is one of our best ever. He is not better than DK Lillee. Lillee had everything McGrath has plus searing pace (at least early on). He had a fear factor. As for DK not bowling to great batsman, sure mate. What about Sobers, Richards, Greenidge, Miandad and Gower? One of the reasons that certain batsman are making a lot runs these days is due to the lack of people like McGrath. Which great opening fast bowlers have Aussie opening batsman had to face in the last 10 years (other then the recent Ashes series)? There is no-one like Hadlee, Botham, Khan, Dev, not to mention Marshall, Garner, Holding, Walsh and Roberts. So it is not that Mcgrath is bowling in a time of great batsman -- he has been bowling in a time where he stands out as a beacon as far as great opening bowlers go.

Well i dont agree with whatever is said above. I dont think McGrath or even Warne can be called as ideal sports people. He may have performed well on any surfaces but he like any aussie white man does not respect people from other races and especially when he is given back things in return he can fall at any length even going to extent of abusing people. Secondly as said earlier he thinks and acts as if he is from heaven and his behavior is boorish. I think he isnt worth any credit as a super hero. He has been at his best because he is well suppoerted by other bowlers but i dont think he can be called in the same league as say murali or kumble or harbhajan or akram. These bowlers take wickets even when other bowlers are leaking runs. So we can never know how good is McGrath without his other bowlers. And one thing is sure and has been proved in the recent ashes series that Aussie is nothing without McGrath. So i am sure the day McGrath retires it will be curtains for the so called Aussie world beaters

I totally agree with what has been written, but i would also like to point out that Shane Warne is not all about controversy, dazzling persona and showmanship and Wrane has the numbers to prove this. So yes Glenn Mcgrath is a great bowler but its his luck maybe that he has even competition and that too from his own team mate. Kind of reminds me about Wasim nad Waqar undoubtedly the Kings of swings but somehow Waqar was always under Wasim's shadow.

err, munshi, no hard feelings but here are the stats in subcontinent:
mcgrath 19 tests 72 wkts at 23 (srate 54)
vaas 60 tests 203 wkts at 26 (srate 60)

and by the way, imran often bowled on underpreapred wkts in an era where batting stocks were thin. mcgrath plays in a batting dominated era on pitches flatter than those in the 70s and 80s.

Hes undoubtedly one of the best ever if not the best considering this age of batsmen dominance and oneday cricket. I am Indian, living in Australia for 10 years and not in Asylum mate

Macgrath is no doubt the greatest of all .Lot of people talk about pace.Pace cannot get you wickets.You must remembers the fast bowling machines are easier for batsman to cope in the nets than say shrewd bowler like Mcgrath.Macgrath has great height.The combination of height and his not so slow pace make him more dangerous complete bowler.By the way he bowls at above 80mph and with his height it is more dangerous than a bowler with less height bowling at 90 -95 kmph like Shoab Akthar.A best bowler needs cricketing brains too to outwit batsman and Macgrath has that in abundance.
As regards to comments that Sub continent bowlers bowl better in sub continent,it is a big myth.This bowlers get different conditions .Some wickets on sub continent are heavily unsportingly bowler friendly by which these subcontinent bowlers improve their statistics.

Without Mcgrath and Warne in a team Australian team is not the same .Its strength is reduced to less than half.This is what Indian team relished and claimed themselves to be only next to Austaralia during their last tour down under.
All teams play better against Australia when Warne and Mcgrath combination is not in Australian team.

In short the discussion on this topic itself is out of time as even a kid will tell that Mcgrath is greatest.The writing is clear on the wall.His durability with quality performance over such a long period speaks volumes.Only other bowlers who come close to Mcgrath is Richard Hadlee and Malcom Marshal who also top quality performance through out without periods of loss of bowling forms like any other fast bowler you can name you bet.

The true value of Mcgrath ( and to a certain extent Warney) was seen in 2003 when they both were missing from the Australian line up and the best team in the world struggled to win at home against India. I know its only one series and they did draw it rather than lose it, but the glimpse to the end of aussie dominance was fairly clear. Even in that heart stopping Ashes, the 2 tests england won were when Mcgrath did not play...this despite that genius warney taking 40 wickets. Food for thought as is any good cricket debate!!!!

Put Kapil Dev on the list. He took a wicket in almost every first spell of his in an innings. His figures got blurred only at the end of his career while chasing the records.

Okay, McGrath might have got better of Atherton, Tendulkar, Lara but so many of these decisions have been dubious and wrong!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, he is one of the best in the trades. No doubt.

I feel Glen Mcgrath is an overrated bowler who, had he been bowling in the 70z/80z wouldn't be half as effective as he is these days.
He has no pace, limited skills and bowls line and length stuff. It's his unerring accuracy that gets him wickets (mostly all edged to keeper/slips).
Test cricket has changed since the 70's and 80's with emphasis on attacking play and result-oriented cricket. Hence batsmen of modern times conform with that principle and play accordingly. They attack, they get impatient and they don't apply themselves as batsmen used to (this is not necessarily a bad thing, as test cricket has become a whole lot more entertaining). Batsmen find Glenn Mcgrath hard to score off and are suckered into playing an injudicious/impatient shot leading to an invariable caught behind (or in the slips). But against proper test batsmen of yesteryears like border, gavaskar, miandad and countless other patient men, there would be no chance of him thriving. Some might argue that even someone as patient as Dravid has been pedestrian against Mcgrath but Dravid has only recently become great and I'm talking about an entire past era of disciplined, forebearing batsmen. His only solitary skill is putting the ball in the right place, ball after ball. In that regard, he is very similar to one Joel Garner, who was as unerringly accurate but taller (hence produced more bounce) and faster. Garner's only fault was that he was born before his time. In this era, Garner would have overshadowed even Mcgrath. But Garner never got the same recognition in that age as did Marshall or even Holding, because batsmen applied themselves at a level of concentration unmatched by the batsmen of today. Hence Garner who was an even better bowler than Mcgrath with his solitary line and length skill, didn't flourish as much as his more skilfull peers. Mcgrath in those days wouldn't even have found a place in the WI national side. His bowling is dreary to watch and his unanimated style, even after getting an imp wicket, is a yawn-inducing denouement.

As for Warne, he REVIVED the art of leg-spin after Qadir had produced the death throes of a dying fish. Mcgrath, if anything, represents the DEGENERATION of the great art of fast bowling. Bowlers with great skills like Wasim and Marshall, who have seen their career stats eclipsed by Mcgrath, are made to wonder how much it pays to have just one skill and medium pace in today's fast paced batsman's world. Gone are the days of Marshall, Holding, Imran, W's. Enter a new age where bowlers will look to model themselves after Line and Length gurus like Mcgrath. Afterall, who doesn't want 500+ wickets at an average of 21.27? We are entering a sad time gentlemen, where spectators will watch games just for the entertainment batsmen can provide, little realizing what the great Benaud has always emphasized: that there is no sight in world cricket than that of a truly fast bowler. Add skills to that bowler and you have a visual feast. We are watching the decay of the greatest of arts, exemplified most by one Glenn Mcgrath.

Shane Warne is seen as a joke here in the subcontinent. In India atleast, not only does McGrath get his full due but I sometimes feel he's even somewhat over-rated. To say the least, the absence of McGrath in the Aussie squad means a very probable win for India. (and added absence of Gillespie means a guaranteed win).

As for the most exciting bowlers to watch (in my generation) it's first Shoaib, then Akram followed by Donald and then Ambrose.

glenn mcgrath=bowling idol

Bores batsmen to death?

In a way, but he gets so many of his wickets with lethal deliveries that have nothing with boredom-the outswinger that shapes away JUST enough to take the outside edge....the yorker (yes, he has a great one!)...the sharply incoming offcutter....

remember the ball that got Dravid in Chennai (my memory fails me, i THINK that was the second match in the 2004 series... when dravid was removed for a duck)

and how about the delivery that finally got rid of Pietersen after he had saved the match for England at the Oval?

gems.
----
Control, i would argue, is something that many can master. But rarely do you get a bowler who puts the ball on a good line and length...and THEN makes it do different things!
i've seen mcgrath send down outswingers,inswingers, offcutters, legcutters, slower deliveries, quicker balls-all pitching at the same spot!

Don't constrict Pigeon into line-and-length stuff-he's hardly a stock bowler.

He's already got line and length-and THEN he has mastery over seam and swing, on all kinds of wickets, in all seasons. And that is what makes him so great.

oh, and he always bowls to a plan. it may seem obvious but it has a great effect. boring batsmen to death by bowling to their weaknesses and restricting their runscoring-and getting wickets in the process.

anyone remembers Tendulkar's dismissal in the 2003 WC final? three dots, a pulled four, and miscue next ball.

World Cup final

S Tendulkar c&b McGrath 4

'nuff said.

and i haven't even started talking about his action!

The guy who said that McGrath bowled when bowling stocks are high versus Imran (and Imran bowled on covered pitches too by the way, uncovered was in the 50s and before) doesn't know what he's talking about. The truth is that the standard in bowling has gone down and hence the batting looks better. There isn't a single Boycott, Gavaskar, Border or Miandad who can stonewall the bowlers into submission anymore. Also Marshall's stats look deflated because of the debut series he suffered against Gavaskar in India. He rectified matters in the 83 WI tour and India tour when he got Gavaskar out a number of times and knocked the bat out of his hand (lets see McGrath, Lee, Flintoff or Harmison pulling that one off). 33 wickets in a 6 match series is more than anything that McGrath can pull off in the sub-continent. He's done it against Sehwag, Dravid and Tendulkar who are not technically a patch on the Boycotts and Gavaskars, not even the great Tendulkar could bore the bowlers to tears like Gavaskar or Boycott, not exactly entertaining fare, but at the same time the nightmare for any bowler.

I'd like to see the stats of both Warne & McGrath, when the other hasn't played. Perhaps also in terms of 'top order wickets'. It would also be interesting to see each champion's stats when bowling in tandem with the other - I am sure both have earned wickets due in part to the pressure exerted at the other end (esp. in Warne's case). Perhaps this would shed light on the success of each bowler, and how they would have fared leading lesser attacks with less capable support.

Without any doubts McGrath is a good infact a better fast bowler of all time and the best in the bussiness now but he always lacks agression very negative in approach his behaviour is like a spinner who always working for a particular line and lenght thats Why I can only rank him After Akram, Ambrose, Walsh, and waqar in modern day cricket all of them had the courage to test the batsman on their own they dont need batsman mistake to get him out like McGrath

except for 2 matches which he played in UAE against pakstan .. in that match team was like club team no recongnise batsman in there ... except fot those matches his average in sub-continent is 26 man ... not better than VASS..

never took 10 wicket ... see imran, waqar an akram ... i'll show you the statics later ... and they won matches from no where ... McGrath can not do that in his wildest dream in those dead pitches ...

for imran there is just a excuse .... much much better than him...

for example recent match b/w Pak vs Eng ... when every one was taling about draw and blaming the flatest pitch ... botham was say flatest pitch in this life and suggesting a six day match to get result .. and see how shoaib turn the table in one hours ...
one hour and 10 minutes 8 wickets and 48 runs ...
did ever he achive that ? no ... He can not ...

mcgrath not even better than waqar!!

Being an avid cricket fan from India I've never seen any pacer bowl better than him in India. I believe he is the sole reason Australia last won here. Though Gillespie got more wickets than him it was McGrath's nagging accuracy that paved the way for other bowlers to add to their kitty. He's performed in every country and is now earning respect for being well behaved as well. Truly the best bowler ever without an iota of doubt and there will not be a better pacer.

I agree with your assessment. In an age where we play more matches than 10-20 years ago (when Kapil, Imran and the likes played) it is very difficult to average less runs per wicket than Glen has. Especially considering the batsmen that are playing year-round like Lara, Sachin, Rahul and the likes (nothing taken away from the achievements of Gavaskar, Miandad and others), Glen has achieved a lot. You are right, he's under-appreciated but that goes, as you said, with having Shane Warne as a team-mate. It actually might be helpful to Glen as it takes all the pressure off Glen. Something like Kumble, I agree.

Mcgrath is not a civilized person, he often use bad language as far as bowling concern, he is good, but ofcourse not the best bcaz during his carrier the best bowlers were ofcourse WASIM & WAQAR

Pigeon is a great bowler not a doubt about that, and if he was fit then maybe the Ashes would still be in Oz. However, I am old enough to remember DK Lillee and he was very special. Maybe it was his size and moustache who knows, but if you want to see real bowling figures against the best in the world at a given time, check out his in World Series in the 70's.... And I am a Kiwi by the way.

yes for sure Mcgrath is better than Lillee. About the figures: Mcgrath never enjoyed the support from Australian umpires, but Lillee did and that too to a huge extent.
Even with that Mcgrath is easily up among the best.

Ambrose is the all time best. When people go ga-ga abt Botham, Don, Akram, etc, they just dont take into account the terror Black God has produced in the minds of most prolific batsmen. Also these days I dont read much about him as I do on Richards, Sobers and likes

Who is the greatest batsmen?

Bradman or my great great grandfather. Unluckily, my gggf never held a bat and was involved in other pursuits.

Interesting article, and a wide range of comments. Seem to be a lot of people who know their cricket history, and quite a number who don't.

I'd just like to take issue with some of the personal comments directed McGrath's way in a couple of these posts. To say that he is a terrible human being is a bit much. He sledges, but so do most people in international cricket. If you don't like it go watch tiddlywinks, but don't hink that you have the right to pass judgement on McGrath's character. You don't know anything about him outside his on-field persona.

That kind of garbage doesn't reflect well on the writers.

And, by the way, this is coming from a Kiwi who has had to endure countless McGrath-induced losses, so I don't have a great deal of sympathy for him under normal circumstances.

well........I like the most McGrath's face when he is thrashed very badly by any batsman......like the way Tendulkar did in Mini world cup 2000 and the way Razzaq did hitting 5 fours in an over!! Why like that? I dont see him a good character in the field to follow even if he is a great bolwer (no doubt about it!!!!)

I think Mcgrath is indeed an unrated bowler, I would have loved to see him bowl on uncovered pitches. I imagine great batsmen of the 80's like Richards and Gavaskar would have definitely started wearing helmets in a hurry.

Are you kidding me? McGrath has not gotten his due?
This writer has just written for the sake of writing an article. McGrath is respected and famous all over. What is this guy talking about? Some people are so jobless.

I believe you had shown MeGrath's averages against world's best batemen not too long ago and they stats were testament to the greatness of a bowler who is feared not because of his skull breaking bouncers or toe crushing yorkers, but his ability to bowl according to the weknesses of each batsman. Batsmen fear him because he is in their minds before a single ball is bowled of the match. He has a plan and it has worked for over a decade. The point of cricket is to get the most amount of wickets with the least anount of runs committed and by that standard McGrath is one of the greatest bowlers ever to hold the cricket ball.

Glenn - what a legend. It is difficult if not impossible to call anyone the greatest given differences in opposition, the team makeup etc, but Glenn obviously ranks up there in the pantheon and along with Warney is a major reason Australia has dominated world cricket for so long. I wonder how successful either Warne or McGrath would be without each other in the team so often?

Same thing with the Windies in the 70's and 80's - yeah they had great batsmen, but those four quicks kept winning the matches.

Given I never saw anyone play cricket before the 70's, here's my list of best four quicks from the past twenty odd years - add Warney in as the spinner and what a bowling line up!

1) Dennis Lillee - sheer aggro in his early days, incredible guile and outswing/legcutters in his later days
2) Glenn McGrath - enough said in the blog
3) Michael Holding - whispering death, just for the joy of watching that run-up.
4) Tough choice for number four amongst a host of candidates, but for me, I'd put Curtly Ambrose in for the height, the throat wrenching bouncers and that stare.

Other obvious candidates are Andy Roberts, Malcolm Marshall, Wasim Akram and Sir Richard Hadlee. Maybe they could be the opposition bowlers with Murali as the spinner and see how the batsmen get on!

And before people get offended, there are a pile of great quicks over the past 30 years not in this list - Waqar, Courtney, Joel Garner, Bob Willis......

McGrath is definitely best bowler of his era. I dont think any one else could even come closer to him.
I really admire the way he came back from the injury a year back , especially after he was written off by most of the so called cricket analysts. I have seen him bowling on sub continent pitches too and i think, he is as dangerous over there as he is in australia. I have never seen Dennis Lillee playing so i cant compare, and anyway it is hard to compare the players from different eras.
McGrath not getting the limelight is not point here. I dont think he ever craves for it either. His personality can be seen in his bowling style. I still can not believe that he remembers all the test wicket he took. This shows that he is about planning on batsmen's weacknesses and using them in his favour.

A True legend
Hats off to you Glenn

Mcgrath is the best ever bowler, IMO. Marshall, Hadlee, Imran, Akram and Lillie may come close. Ignore the bowling average and his success during an era when batsman dominate the game. Just look at his record in crisis situation or when Aus is needed to make a point and he almost always comes through. Look at the quality of his wickets and the frequency at which he's outed the opposition top batsman. Look at the lack of relative success of worlds top batsman against him (even lara, tendulkar, Inzi, kallis or dravid) compared to other top bowlers (Warne takes much lower quality wickets).

Most importantly, look at this great Aus teams record without him. In last 6 years, the only significant success against Aug (india in aus) and Ashes this year, came when Mcgrath was missing. Mcgrath is the most important player in Aus team. Without him, Aus is merely a good team, not great.

-Amit.

I do not see how any person claiming to be a genuine fan of cricket can have anything negative to say about Glenn. I am not a fan of the Australian team but have no qualms in stating that they are by far the best team in the world and on the same token I have no qualms in stating that we will probably never see another bowling machine like McGrath. He is the only bowler I know who was bowled the same line and length and used the same pace without much variation and caused nightmares for the worlds best batsmen over a decade. He is truly a phenomenal speciman of seam bowling and is the envy of every cricket coach in the world.

Every time I get asked the question - who is the best all-time fast bowler in the world, my answer is unequivocally McGrath. Wasim Akram, Dennis Lillee, Richard Hadlee are all a close 2nd. McGrath is a bowlers' bowler. In most sport, there is little drama associated with consistency and therefore does not get recognized as the single thing that truly seperates a good player from a great one. Mcgrath lets the seam "talk" - land it in the right place and the ball might move either way and he extracts the bounce as well - that is the description of a wicket taking machine.

great bowler

great bowler and being a West Indian fan and Brian Lara supporter, Glenn have to be amoung the greats for he often gets the PRINCE.

Finest quick bowler of the last 30 years - how can anyone look further than Malcolm Marshall (RIP)?
What Marshall had in common with McGrath was complete mastery over the ball, but whereas McGrath has been the one outstanding quick bowler in a very, very good side, Marshall was the outstanding bowler in a team of outstanding bowlers.
Marshall had a better strike rate and average than Pigeon and (ask any batsman on the 80's) produced some of the most hostile spells of quick bowling in the history of the game.
Don't get me wrong, McGrath is undoubtedly a true all time great, but Marshall is simply the finest quick bowler I have ever had the pleasure of watching.

Mcgrath is good , but no where near style and class of Akram and Waqar
Look at his performance in 1994 tour of pakistan,
Inning of Malik of 237 in RWP test.

GLEN is the most effective and efficient silent killer of even the BEST in business like Sachin, LAra, Dravid, InZy and others and Ponting & Co. should be glad that they need not have to face this GREATEST and MEANEST bowler of all time. Simply, he is the BRADMAN amongst alltypes of bowlers

JK: "but he like any aussie white man does not respect people from other races" ... why is it that some people are such hypocrites? ANY aussie white man huh? Because you've met all of them of course...

He is not too different from Wasim Akram in capability (less dependent on pace more on skill) but much more consistent and much less controversial...

I can't believe what I'm reading here. I am a loyal English cricket fan, but I still believe McGrath is the greatest fast bowler that's been seen in a long time. And all this stuff about him having no personality or being really smug or whatever? Have you ever heard of White Line Fever? It's all on the pitch, part of the game. Plus, he has a wicked sense of humour on and off the pitch, as demonstrated in the 'red card' incident in feb against nz. And it doesn't matter about personality anyway- he's the best bowler I've certainly ever seen.

Undoubtly the best bowler right now in the world and one of the best when it comes to being an all time great. Let me just point out that the only reason why australia lost ashes, besides their bad batting form was absense of Glen Mcgrath or not full fittness. The day when Glenn calls it 'quits', the domination of Australia in world cricket will end.

There are batting lines up in world that can match australian batting line up but there is none that can match Glenn Mcgrath

mcgrath is one of the great fast bowler right now but saying he is the best fast bowler in cricket history is the definetly wrong. who is the best fast bowler in the world i think the record speak itself, is the greatest WASIM AKRAM.......

I agree.And that's coming from someone who is english.

guys i definitely dont think hes the finest bowler of the last 30 yrs...for the simple reason he doesnt have the variations that ppl like wasim akram and malcom marshall had...He is definitely good...but always have a feeling he is a one dimensional bowler...

i agree. very sucessful and effective bowling. but very one dimensional and boring to watch. i mean u gotta be determined and have mental toughness to keep bowling the ball in the same spot ball in ball out. but the bowling is nothing special at the end of the day. the skills and variations wasim akram and co have brought to the game are more appealing for sure.

Bravo. A little credit for guile, wisdom, consistency and effectiveness over speed-guns, and paparazzi. The fact that he can do all this in a young mans game (fast bowling!) is a marvellous credit to a truly great Australian sportsman. Hooray for Metronome McGrath.

The argument seems to have shifted to whether he's the best bowler ever or not from the original topic of does he get the his due. As I said earlier he definitely does get his full due in India (for one) but having never visited Australia I must say I am in no position to make a judgement on that. I woulda got a much better impression had all the writers above had just posted their views of how much respect Glenn has in their respective countries of residence.

Now, since almost everyone did mention their choice for the all-time greatest bowler, I'll name mine as well. As an Indian cricket fan I've not feared any other bowler as much I have feared Wasim Akram of taking the match away from my favourite side. he could have had a completely rusty series but would display magic within a 5-over spell. I've seen Akram make total fools out of great batsmen on some of their best days.

Lillie and lindwal do not compare with McGrath.

With the batsmen friendly pitches today, no other bowler comes near in terms of penetrability and economy

"Glenn McGrath is one of the world's leading fast bowlers"

The stmt must be Glenne Mcrath is word's leading fast bowler. There is no contemporary who is even remotely comparable with a mild exception of shaun pollock.

Macgrath is really a genius ...he really is for me he is best fast bowler in test history easily overthrwing Deniss Lille'es and Malcon MArshell's and in ODI's he is second best best bowler after the Great PAkistani Left HAnder Genius WAsim Akram......the only thing he misse's in ODI's is the death end bowling he some times get treatment from Littel Master SAchin's "Kandasa" or time to time from some pther ODI*s deshaer's.....but in test cricket he is way ahead of all fast bowler's........I like him so much that i copies his bowling action when i bowl's.......but ia m one accurate as he is...........He is after Wasim akram simply the BEST.......

He is a living legend. Easily the best in the world at what he does right now. If you don't agree, look at his stats. His average is just a bit over 21 and strike rate around 50. And I'm from New Zealand!

McGrath is good, but the best - unlikely...
Up to 300 wickets, Donalds stats were better (and he was more feared). Since then, a miserly line and length, whilst bowling with other top line performers, in an all conquering team, has ensured that his stats look great. The Aussie batsmen scored loads, quickly, creating the pressure. Then McGrath and Gillespie put their medium pacers on the spot and waited for the wickets to fall (Gillespie admitted as much when he got dropped). Against England, McGrath had the perfect pitch at Lords with a perfect slope (and put the ball on the spot astonishingly accurately). Beyond that, the English boys weren't afraid of him, and understood if you left the balls outside off, you were safe (as the Kiwis did in a previous series).
McGrath is a very good bowler, albeit not a very good sportsman. He's just not in the same league as Hadlee, Marshall, Lillee, Akram, et al.

mcgrath..the greatest?? ...no way! great bowler yes ..definitely top 10 but no more. how can he be the greatest when his main attribute is to 'submit the batsman into boredom'.....Wasim, Holding, Marshall, Waqar, Imran , lillee, Thompson...Akhtar...stuff that stirs the spirit...now your'e talking...

Mcgrath is definately the best bowler the world has seen from mid-ninety onwards and it is my personal view that he is underrated in his homeland. But to compare him to bowlers of the eighties or before is not exactly fair because of the enormous changes in the mentality and technique of modern day test batsmen. It amazes me that a bowler with just(and i stress on the point just!) accuracy can end up with 600 test wickets. It speaks volumes about his patience and pathetic abilities of the modern day test batsmen.

Man,...this guy Mcgrath....when facing him , u have no option but to get out, i mean, if u play a shot and u make contact with the ball it usually goes to the slips,if u dont play the ball, it hits the stumps or will have have you LBW!!! So either way....if u play or dont play his balls you are out! He better retire after world cup 2007 or risk a strike by batsmen all over the world!!! by the way, for all his dominance, i believe S.R. Tendulkar has been the only challenge to Mcgrath during his career so far Mcgrath admits it himself...no other batsmen have ever dared to take him on...remember Nairobi champions trophy? And the first over of the AUS vs INDIA series in India in 2001 when he smashed 3 fours and 1 six of Mcgrath?.

I think McGrath gets his due. Look at all the responses here. The man in the street knows his worth to his country's cricket team and the commentators are always praising him (and rightly so). One thing I can't agree with is a couple of comments regarding McGrath getting the top order and Warne cleaning up the tail. Do you guys watch the game? I think McGrath should be put on a pedestal but only if Warne is on there with him. Warne has a tremendous record against the top order players. Take the recent ashes series. Were you watching that? I won't accept people saying that these two are over the hill either. McGrath's numbers this year have been fantastic (as always) and Warne is about to take more wickets in a calendar year in the history of test cricket. Not so bad eh? Glen McGrath and Shane Warne are both a treat. Watch them while you can boys and girls, I doubt you'll get a pair this good again in your lifetime.

Greatest Right-Arm Quick:

C.E.L. Ambrose

Greatest Left-Arm Quick:

Wasim Akram

>>>>>

The reason McGrath doesn't make it to the top vs. Ambrose (another metronome) is because in their primes... Ambrose was quicker, got more bounce, held a tighter line and intimidated batsmen like nothing else.

Ambrose also had a certain Mr. Walsh to hunt with... which meant more competition... a lot of times Ambrose's pressure from one end yielded wickets for Courtney. This was especially true when Ambrose got older, slower and less penetrative - his line and length created pressure, but fewer wickets at a lower strike rate.

Mc Grath no doubt can make it to any dream eleven. But some of the time i wonder would Mc Grath would be as effective without Warney. I would really like to see the stats in which Australia won and how many wickets did Warney and Mc Grath had. But still even after the comparisons Mc Grath is still the very best in business.

Mcgrath - modest? please - he predicted a 5-0 whitewash for England. That was typically cocky of the Australian players, including Mcgrath. Having said that, there is no doubt he is a GREAT bowler. I would pick him in my team any day, even though he might be a little boring at times to watch.

In a Era where we have got to witness some of the simply stunning fast bowling greats viz. Ambrose, Walsh, Waqar, Wasim, Donald; McGrath could be rated probably the most consistent.
The menace of the two W's, the terror of Ambrose, piercing persistence of Walsh and the blazing Fiery Donald were a force reckoned all over the place.
Mcgrath has just stayed fit, due to his amazing physique and plugged away to take all the wickets.
He probably might be an Aussie Legend for the decade but not a unanimous one across the world cause the men he used to compete are no more around

Interesting topic article and an interesting enough corwd of responses. Thoroughly enjoyed reading everyone of them and before I leave I did wanna mention one last thing. The whole purpose of a cricket game (or for that matter any other sport game) is to provide entertainment. And our dear Glenn McGrath is guilty of not being a good entertainer. He is "boring" as most seem to suggest.

Sometimes I feel these sport entertainers should also get paid solely for that aspect - the bigger the crowd puller the more you should get paid. Remember the highest paid atheletes are usually not the ones best at their game. Actually, a much more correct statement would be - The richest atheletes are usually not the best in their respective sports game... whether it be Beckham or Shaquille O'Neal.

Imagine McGrath & Marshall as a new ball pair, alas only a dream - or nightmare if you're batting!

Hi i agree tht mcgrath is a good bowler but i don't think he is a good crickter.Because i don't think he know's what a sports man spirit is.He is always swearing. And i also think that his bowling action is not proper(actualy i am sure)but because he is australian so no one take's action on his style.

It is a close call between McGrath, Marshall and Lillee,but I gave him the edge. Many of the other great fast bowlers had very good partners who applied pressure and added variety to cause the batmen trouble. They had one or two main weapons, blistering pace and some other dangerous weapon in their arsenal. The thing about McGrath is that he has many different weapons in his arsenal(which are disguised) coupled with deadly line and lenth, the staple of great fast bowling. Can you imagine if he had blistering pace also? To those who say he is boring, that is their opinion-but just ask the opposing batmen, I am sure they don't think so.

Although McGrath may be boring with his line and length, he's extremely entertaining when he gets whacked around!! Remember the Sarwan incident! Not to mention the way he gts the crowd going when he comes out to bat. Afterall, he's the man with the '61 factor'!!

For those that have said McGrath is boring and limited because he bowls line and length.....obviously none of you have ever either a) been a bowler or b) had a clue about cricket.

What ARE the necessary foundation blocks for any bowler to be considered even test standard let alone great (as McGrath truely is)? LINE and LENGTH. Anyone who tells you differently are fools.

A bowler can have all the pace, bounce, aggression etc etc etc but without proper control over line and length they are destined to be mediocre whatever level they play.

Speaking of underappreciation, I must bring up Muralitharan's name here. I mean for his out-of-this-world record (way better numbers than Warne) and the kind of team he plays for he is still regarded as one of the best today. He is easily in the top five spinners of all time and possibly the greatest ever. Fine he's not sexy like Warne, but he's no less a master than Warne.

Sri Lanka's second second best bowler, Vaas, averages a little over three wickets a test, at 28 runs apiece with a strike rate of 60. Compare these numbers to the kind of bowlers Warne operates with and then look at both their strike rates. It's unbelieveable Murali requires a lesser number of deliveries to dismiss a batsman than Warne in spite of being part of the horrible SL bowling attack. Some perspective huh?

Whoever posed this question is a joker. He has not got his due? Are you kidding? There is no denying that he is one of the premier fast bowlers ever born. But it is difficult to say that he is the best ever. Anyway that is beside the point. Volumes and volumes have been written about him. Does anyone write about Ambrose and Walsh? Why don't u guys search for number of articles written about Glenn and these folks and you will know what I am talking about. These windies fast bowlers bowled on some of the worst wickets ever and so did the subcontinent bowlers. But they are not publicised the same way as Glenn. He is a great great bowler not doubt but he has definitely got his due. It is about time people realize that. Look at Curtly Ambrose's figures and you will realize he is one great who has not got his due.

Control is often a loosely used term. Come on people, do you honestly believe that Waqar Younis had more control over his pitching line and length than Gavin Larsen or Derek Pringle. Absolutely not!!! What made Younis special was his ability to produce unplayable or "dismissing" deliveries consistently enough. Don't ever, not for a moment, think that McGrath bores batsmen into erring. Glenn McGrath has cut, bounce, decent pace and a super fielding side to back him up. His "hit-the-top-of-the-offstump" isn't necessarily the same delivery as Gavin Larsen's run-containing wobbler. McGrath's "hit-the-top-of-the-offstump" often moves inwards or outwards, bounces sharply or was preceded by a different delivery. In other words, stopping the flow of runs is often a consequence of his wicket-taking tactic, not THE intended result.

No doubt McGrath is one of the best bowlers ever. Although when he came on to bowl at the recent Adelaide Test he got a great reception. Secondly when he came into bat he almost got a standing ovation. I believe most Australia cricket fans understand his greatness.

he would have got nowhere near 500 wickets if he had played his career in the sub-continent like wasim and Kapil.

We Indians (well, most of us) love and admire mcgrath. If there's any non-indian player that I ever wish to be indian is GLENN MCGRATH (Not ambrose, akram, donald, lara, warne, murali, etc)He's surely the greatest bowler of this generation I've ever seen. He's definitely more valuable player than warne. His records speaks for himself. EOD!!

McGrath is bit lucky to spearhead the dominant phase of Australian cricket. Softned by other pace opening partners, oposition batsman tended to lossen a bit against him and that is how he got his victims. Atleast that is how I view in the early middle phase of his carrer, aiding that is the superlative Aussie groundwork.
However, full credits to where it goes, "the piegon" is an ideal example of consistency and horse work. Overshadowed by other individual performers in the team of his time, he will be remembered and cited by coaches to emmerging young fast bowlers.

He's a good bowler, but I think the current standard of bowling and batting, and particularly defensive techniques is much worse now than when Lillee played. Also, Atherton was not a "great" player. He was exposed whenever he faced quick, accurate bowling, which is basically what McGrath bowls.

The idea that this is an age of great batsmen is absurd. The majority of modern test batsmen feast on mediocre pace bowling by Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, India, West Indies, New Zealand and are no longer able to play with the sort of defensive technique capable of seeing off McGrath.

Also, Warne and McGrath's figures are artificially improved by having played a quarter of their test matches against England. For most of their careers we have had fairly weak batting and only one or two decent bowlers. It's much easier to bowl people out when your batsmen rack-up 600, than when you're bowled out for 200, although, of course, that's exactly what McGrath did earlier this year in the Ashes. At one point Warne had half his wickets against England i.e. taking three times as many against England as against the rest.

The greatest bowler I ever saw?
Malcolm Marshall: 376 wickets in 81 tests at 20.9, an economy rate of 2.7 and 90 mph. Imagine how many he would have taken if there had only been one other bowler of equal ability in his side, rather than three.

The key is consistency and longevity. McGrath has maintained a consistently high standard over an unprecedented period of time. So by one measure he is the greatest.

If you however measure a fast bowler in terms of the threat they posed, and the difficulty involved in facing them at their peak, I think a good dozen or so bowlers over the past 30 years would rank ahead of him. The likes of Roberts, Holding, Marshall, Garner, Akram, Waqar, Lillee, Hadlee, Donald all spring to mind.

Thus as the terms of reference for comparability are subjective, so to is McGrath's place in the pecking order of fast bowling greatness!

Do any of you idiots even watch the game, look at his stats, look at his record, he has rarely failed, and why I also believe that it is hard to compare eras, he is (even without 500+ wickets) definetely a standout bowler whichever era, another thing, this is an article about a fast bowler, why would you try and compare a bloody spinner, warne, murali, singh, kumble are all great bowlers but spinners for crying out loud, there seem to be a large number of ignorant people putting posts up here because if you go look at McGraths figures you will hardly find an average over 26 or 27, on any pitch, any country any team, please check your facts, something else, McGrath is not that bad a sportsman that people are making out, does everyone forget that fast bowlers for decades have been sledging batsmen, gee people think about it, and if you bring up the sarwan thing well it was a nasty remark about his very ill wife, who wouldnt respond to that, and hopefully lastly, Wasim and Imran, the west indies greats, et al are great bowlers without a doubt, but whoever tried to put Waqar and Shoaib Akhtar and Vaas really need a reality check, they are not even near great bowlers, oh and Mushi, you are an idiot.

Who is greater: the bowler (eg Marshall) who stands out competing for wickets in a great attack, or the bowler (eg Hadlee) who dominates in a weak attack?

McGrath is Great, but one of the main reasons for his greatness is the way Cricket has changed over the last decade or so.

There is no boring batsmen left to counter this boring machine of a bowler. Nobody wants to watch a Gavaskar, boycott, Mudassar Nazar or a Sanjay Manjrekar in action. All the modern batsmen have no patience left in them, everyone wants to score at 3.5 to 4 an over even in test, as everyone knows 300+ is the norm of a days score, gone are the days of 220 for 2, at the end of first day of
a test.

To me this is the main reason, why McGrath is what he is today.

That was a nice article.Glenn McGrath is a good bowler no doubts of it whatsoever, but definately he needs somemore variations in his armourary to match the likes of Wasim , Warne ,Walsh and Murli.These bowlers that I have mentioned have always strived to come up with variations,subtle or major in their bowling,making them perhaps the most photogenic and popular bowlers in all the cricketing nations.Last but not the least, non of the 4 bowlers have resorted to active and offensive sledging to intimidate their opponents.To me Wasim is the greatest fast bowler of all times.There would be quite a few names before Glenn McGrath comes into reckoning.

Mcgrath isnt the best best, but he would make it into the all time team along with haddlee and marshall and maybe ambrose. Those four are in their own league in test bowling.

Glenn McGrath is a very good bowler in an era of only 2 great batsmen (Lara & Tendulkar). I don't believe he would've been as dominate in the 70's & 80's against batsmen who actually attacked bowlers who were very predictable with their line & length...batsmen such as Richards, Miandad, Richardson, Lloyd, Haynes, Greenidge, Gavaskar, Zaheer Abbas & Gower, would have destroyed McGrath.

i believe Mcgrath is a very fine bowler and he is luky to have played most of his cricket on pitches that supported him very much, not to forget the fielding as well. I think, he cant be ranked with the likes of waqar and wasim, who made bowling a treath to watch, specially waqar with his skills that was not known to cricket to the extent he made.

Always funny when people try and diminish a great player because he is playing in the "wrong time" in their opinion, quite laughable really.
Who knows maybe McGrath would have eaten Lloyd etc for breakfast, we will never know as alas I misplaced the plans for the time machine.

One of the greatest of all time... go Pidge.

Mcgrath is certainly the greatest bowler ever..dont agree? try tis simple test -
imagine the best batsman of your country (if you are australian, then imagine sachin/lara/inzy/Kallis) batting and mcgrath bowling..Are you praying that you dont lose a wicket or are you praying for a six?? Of course you are praying for the former!!!
keep it up mate!! cheers!!

It has been a pleasure to watch McGrath over the last 10-15 years. He is the best bowler i have seen. What makes him that much better than past quickies is that the batsmen know exactly where the ball is pitching, yet they still manage to struggle. He would be the first bowler that would get picked in any team, even before Warnie. He will get so much more recognition when he retires from the game. His record speaks for itself.

mcgrath to me is the greatest fast bowler of all time jus ask any current batsman. people say he is boring but i dont feel any batsman in the middle would feel that way. he beats batsman with seam length and pace( sometimes lack of it) anyone who understands the game and knows anything about fast bowling would tell u that skill doesnt come easy.
great former players also agree and he gets people out and wins australia matches ultimately what everyone thrives to do. mcgrath is just the best at it
warne is a genius and a true superstar of the game as who is better is up to whoever wants to judge
people may criticise these two now cause they dont or never did have someone like mcgrath and warne in the teams they support but any person who appreciates the game would know thier value and those who dont and like to judge wait 4 the retirement of these two legends and then you will weep

McGRATH is a "good" bowler who has had and is having a great career,but for my money
M.Marshall is simply the best, no other bowler has been able to dominate and terrify good batsmen the way that he has.He had it all speed,ball control,aggresion,intimidation,great cricketing brain and
a wide range of different dileveres.If you were to ask the best batsmen of the past 30 years who the would like to bat against i am sure they will all choose McGrath!!!!!!!!!!!
I am sure that he is appreciated for what he has done for Australian cricket.

I don't know if he is the best of all time. All I know is that he is an artist at work and an absolute pleasure to watch. He should get more credit not only for the wickets he takes but also the ones he set up with his consistant line and length. Pidge you are a champion!

The Pidge! What can one say that hasn't already above. He falls somewhat into the same mould as Grant Hackett. An absolute master at his craft and yet by their very quiet and tenacious natures they are understated. I agree his stature will grow with time. I agree he was almost invisible media wise early in his career. And I agree he has lived in the great-blonde-leggie's shadow. I do not agree however that he has no peers in Australian cricket and I believe the two you've mentioned pay testament to that fact. God help us when he goes - they are big big boots - golden or otherwise

Would McGrath make Austalia's best ever 11? Tough one.

For sheer longevity, it is difficult to look beyond McGrath. He has made a comeback from a career-threatening injury and has only got better. A pace bowler par excellence, he has come up trumps at various venues and shown the value of accuracy.
He gets his due and his services have been acknowledeged.

Would McGrath make Austalia's best ever 11? Tough one.

McGrath is definetly the great bowler but i don't think he is the greatest ever. Wasim is the greatest ever. He is the greatest bowler cricket has ever seen.

McGrath is one bowler who has consistently delivered.Never once has his form been in question.
He should continue playing as long as he is enjoying the game.There are still a couple of years left for us to enjoy McGrath at his very wicked best.

"Mcgrath is good , but no where near style and class of Akram and Waqar
Look at his performance in 1994 tour of pakistan,
Inning of Malik of 237 in RWP test.

Posted by: Shahid at December 8, 2005 08:17 PM"

Wasn't this the second Test of that tour, in which McGrath didn't play? It's a bit hard to critise him for allowing a big score when he wasn't even on the field.

It's always difficult to compare players of different eras, because of the different conditions - but a champion of one era would almost always be a champion in another. McGrath may or may not be the best pace bowler ever, but he is certainly one of the best bowlers of his generation. His figures stack up against anyone who has played the game, and the difference he makes to his team when he plays shows how great he is. He may not intimidate batsmen or have raw pace, but there are few around who are as consistent, who take wickets as regularly and who gives away so little. Australia will miss him when he retires, as I'm sure all those jealous of Australia's success are eagerly anticipating - another indication of his stature in the game.

Mc Grath is uncomparable with anyone....he's simply on the top of the world....He has always shown it in the pressure situations as well

mcgrath is getting results, no matter what anybody says about him. he uses boredom,or their batsmen score quickly and then putting pressure on the opposition,(it is no fault of his) he is definitely striking.

Glenn McGrath is the aspiring fast bowler's dream idol. He is the fast bowler's fast bowler like Michael Holding was before him.

If Earth were to play Mars, I would unhesitatingly toss the new ball to the Pigeon.

Macgrath is simply the greatest fast bowler of ALL time no one is even come closer to him......

One fact which I think is not analyzed much is the effect of helmets and other protective gear on batting and fast bowling. Clearly, many modern batsmen with 50 + averages would not have survived (literally!) 30 years back. So, a batting average of 50, twenty years back meant much more than it does today and conversly the exploits of bowlers like Macgrath and Shoaib mean much more today. The fast bowlers have to be much more skillful today than they had to be in the past - Marshall never got his wickets from slower balls. Didnt need to.

Yeh its true that McGrath is one the best bowler in his era along with Great Wasim Akram and Nasty Waqar younis. As we compare him with DK Lillee, McGrath is better bowler than him cose now a days cricket is very much tougher than the past and the survival in this era especially for the bowlers is very difficult due to the one day cricket and the way he survived in the team and performed for his country is far different from lillee and one thing more now a days the strategy of the batsman is also different as you can look into the career of Shahid Afridi, he does not have any respect for the bowlers, many other batsman do the same to the bowlers so i donot think that we can compare the bowlers of the past who never played one day cricket with the present bowlers. So this whole story tells that the bowlers of the present era are more respectable that the older ones. They are also respectable but they do not have any comparision with the present bowlers.

According to me all the sports men are great cose they are serving their countries and getting glorey for their countries and also providing entertainment to their people. solute to them

sajid khan sherwani Lahore pakistan

marshall undoubtedly God of Pace, and hadlee a close second. But hell, wasimakram, for all his skills, wasnt such a great test bowler. one days may be, but def not tests. and yes, mcgrath is underrarted compared to all those past masters. but that's simply because history always looks more glorious in hindsight...In 70s and 80s, there were just 7 batsmen who are as good as those today. Viv, Lloyd, Miandad, Gavaskar, Martin Crowe, Border, Boycott...that's it. quicks those days were made to look better by the english lineup of trash, the indian lineupof cowards, aussie lineup of losers and the paki lineup of show ponies.

Why only talking about Warne getting tail enders wickets?. McGrath is also bawling to the tail but Warne gets more wickets due to his variations. He is more unpredictable to any batsman. How can we compare these two different arts like to like.

By the time the Spinner comes to bowl, the top order has always been resting in the dressing room, in the past.

(of course now spinners are brought in to attack by the captains very early)

I think McGrath is getting the recognition what he deserves. He is one of the greatest new ball bowler.

"Man,...this guy Mcgrath....when facing him , u have no option but to get out"

Truer words have never been spoken(by Man atleast, maybe God has). We always hear the pundits of the game talking about Wasim Akram as the greatest left-arm fast bowler of all time, and Shane Warne as the greatest legpinner of all time, but the fact of the matter is that Glenn McGrath is the greatest bowler ever, doesn't matter whether you bowl fast, medium, slow, spin, or you use your right arm or left arm or you use your mouth. Look at GC Smith, this young man is well on his way to become one of the highest accumaltor of runs in Test cricket (close to 3500 runs, and he is not even 25 yet), but against Mcgrath it seems like he bats blindfolded with a toothpick in place of a willow. BC Lara, SR Tendulkar they have all struggled miserably against him. This article was about McGrath, so everybody with their posts should try and stick to him. Let's give him his due at least this once. I am no fan of his attitude on the pitch, but the Pigeon is truly a treasure not just for Australia but the world of cricket as a whole. A suggestion to my Australian friends, cherish him for he truly is the greatese ever.

i dont think McGrath is under appreciated at all...he has the privilege of playing with a v good side full of top quality professional cricketers. his record is enviable against all teams but if someone says he is the best bowler, i totally disagree..he has been bowling at pitches tailor made for bowlers like him but hats off to bowlers like Wasim, Waqar, kapil, Imran who showed their skills in the least favourable pitches for a fast bowler. Wasim no doubt is the Best Bowler of our Era..ps..dont forget his batting skills

why do we need to decimate warne's career in order to portray Mcgrath's greatness.
Mcgrath has always been there,with his ability to adapt to conditions and the sharp accuracy, but it is wrong to compare warne's bowling with his.Mcgrath operates at the start of an innings, when the ball is swinging; Warne, when batsmen try to build up the innings. Off course, warne can't bowl with the new ball at the start of the innings but that's not his JOB! He is there when 15-20 overs have been bowled and with australian attack, you know that 2-3 wickets are going to be down by then.Their roles are different, their styles are different, their TARGETS are different. Mcgrath can afford to bore the batsmen, because the openers are not always comfortable at the start.Warne just can't do that, as he needs to keep the batsmen working and dancing on his feet.
please don't compare their feats....
It will be an insult to their achievements and their bonding.
we can't ever compare rahul dravid and sachin tendulkar ,right friends?

McGrath is clearly the best current fast bowler by a long way (his best and say Shoaib's best are not far apart but he is close to his best more often than Shoaib).
However to suggest he is the best ever is crazy IMHO (for starters because comparing him to say Spofforth is impossible). But even if we restrict ourselves to the last 25-30 years (my cricket life) then I don't think we has been the best. And we can't just compare statistics over that long a period because the game has changed immensely (eg is Ponting truly more than 10% a better batsman that Viv Richards??).

What I think is clear is that the standard of fast bowling is at a 30 year low. I think McGrath partly stands out so much because he is so far ahead of his peers. As others have mentioned too, batting has changed a lot (partly because of the decline in fast bowling) and I think McGrath would struggle a little more against more patient batsmen who were more used to facing high quality fast bowling. As such I think I would rate Lillee ahead of McGrath.

Before the Ashes series Aus media liked to suggest that the current Aus team was the best ever, better than the great WI teams of the 80s. Its not quite measuring the same thing but as a way of comparing I have often tried to pick a combined side from WI of 80s/early 90s and Aus late 90s/00s. The relevant issue here would be the bowlers picked. Warne slots in obviously and then we need 3 fast bowlers, for me I would pick Marshall, Ambrose and Garner I just can't imagine picking McGrath over any of those. If the 12th man was to be a fast bowler who might play in Perth (where Warne's ave is 40) I would be choosing between Holding and McGrath.

I doubt that if McGrath played in the same era as Lillee, Hadlee and Marshall, that he would have been as effective. Against Boycott, Gavaskar, Richards, Lloyd, Gower, Miandad and Zaheer (to anme but a few) he would still be outstanding, but couldn't match Lillee or Hadlee's 5 wickets per test, or Marshall's strike rate (46.22).
Those three simply had more toys, and they knew how to use them.

oh, and no, he's not under-rated, and yes, the man's a twit.

Murali greatest bowler!.
Uh!.look at his record man out of 550 wickets he has 120 againsy banladesh and zimbabwe.And srilanka seems to me like they mostly play in their home.
Tell me how many times they go out of the subcontinent(all these countries have similar ty[pe of pitches)

If effectiveness was the only consideration, McGrath would probably make the Australian 11. Probably. If talent was the only deciding factor, he wouldn't even make the touring party of 16 or 17.

Just for perspective, it is fair to assume (and almost stupid to think otherwise) that Wasim Akram would have been a great of the game no matter what era he played in. None of Akram's stats reflect his true ability and his unparralleled worth to the sides he played. One could make a similar case for Viv Richards, Shane Warne, Gary Sobers (supremely gifted individuals). Such a case can never be made for McGrath who has clearly overachieved in today's day and age of technology, support staff, specialized coaching, heavy commercial endorsements and generous central contracts.

Hahaha...thats funny how you people argue. Our Pigeon is best and great (if not greatest as some of you say). Who cares about this as long as Australia wins?

great bowler...yes....greatest...hmmm..but then. who're we to judge? he's awesome allright...but for sheer variations and on field presence i wud rate wasim akram as the greatest...havent really had the opportunity to watch the 70's and 80's bowlers...so wont even try n go there...but in the 90's till date...my vote wud go for wasim akram, no doubt... but coming to the original question, of whether he's got his due or not...U KIDDIN ME?? the aussie team knows he's a great bowler, the aussie people know he's a great bowler, the media knows he's a great bowler, the opponents know he's a great bowler, hell, EVEN he knows he's a great bowler...what more cud u ask for as far as dues are concerned? a crown, fer cryin out loud!!

I notice that most people's "best bowlers of all time" in this discussion are from the last 20-25 years: what about Fred Trueman, Harold Larwood, Ray Lindwall, Sydney Barnes, Wes Hall? In my view it's impossable to pick one greatest bowler of all time; we don't have a Bradman bowler with an average and strike rate twice as good as his peers. All I feel I can do is name a group of bowlers as 'top class', and McGrath has to be right up there in that class.

Wasim Akram the greatest bowler or better than McGrath, what a joke (by the way I am Pakistani). They recently did a bowling statistics analysis on some of the best bowlers of the recent era on Cricinfo, and amongst the 20 or so bowlers featured, it was noted that Wasim had the lowest percentage of wickets accounting for the top order batsmen of opposition teams (their top order definition=1 to 6). Jeff Thompson, one of the fastest ever, called Akram charming and overrated, and that's exactly what he was minus the charming part. When compared with McGrath, Wasim is not even in the same galaxy. McGrath is like wine, he only gets better with age. He is 36, at this stage we can all remember Wasim being belted all around the ground no matter whom he bowled against. Please tell me people here agree with me.

agree with alex-top class indeed-just like many others.

nonsense.

debates about who is the best bowler can go on forever...but as someone has pointed out here...you can only judge a bowler based on the setting...the time, the place, the teams...'best' is subjective and thus we can only judge bowlers in the light of their importance to the team...

yes, holding, marshall, robersts, et al were great bowlers.

so were trueman, laker, lindwall, miller, and lillee.

so were the two Ws and Imran and Kapil...

and so is Glenn McGrath. He is a great bowler-he would succeed in all ages and in all eras, just like the ones that i have mentioned above would.

as they say...form is temporary...class is permanent.

You can't say one is better than the other-they were all great and performed for their country consistently and rank as heroes.

----

and please lets not talk about this 'golden age' of batting, or the 'decline' in fast bowling.
that is entirely another debate.