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Journalism of Courage
Aussies go the county way
CARDIFF: Australians used to regard county cricket in much the same way that British traditionalists view the one-day game: an inferior and unworthy version of the real thing. But times have changed. This season 12 of the 18 overseas players with English counties are Australian. And now, on the eve of the World Cup, fast bowler Glenn McGrath has come out and said he wants to play a county season. With leg-spinner Shane Warne also expressing similar intentions, it will soon be difficult to find a corner of an English county dressing room that is not forever Australia. Speaking in Cardiff, where the Australians are based for the opening group stage of the World Cup, McGrath said: "I think it (county cricket) is an option for me. It’s something I would like to do." "I have talked to a few clubs and my manager is coming over to discuss whether or not I will be coming out here next season."
A country boy from Dubbo, New South Wales, McGrath has lost his heart to anEnglish woman, Jane Steele. "Jane grew up in the Midlands, lived in the Cotswolds, around Worcester, before moving to Australia. So hopefully I’ll have a chance to get out and see a little bit of the countryside around there. Wherever I’m touring, I like to get out and see what the country has to offer," said McGrath, his attitude a marked contrast to the depressing insularity of many English cricketers.
Spinners ready for challenge: Kumble
LONDON: India’s 10-wicket hero Anil Kumble believes spin could be a dominant factor at the World Cup despite the cold, damp English conditions favour ring seam and swing bowling. "I know everyone is talking about how effective the seamers will be at the World Cup," Kumble said. "My hunch is that the spinners will do as well, if not better." Kumble said his experience with Northamptonshire in English county cricket in 1995 showed that aggressive spinners like himself, Shane Warne, Mushtaq Ahmed and Muttiah Muralitharan would have a crucial role to play."I took more than 100 wickets that season, many of them during the first half of the English summer when the World Cup will be played," he said.
