Lead up to the Ashes.

[Beny]

This is the thread to moniter all of the news in the lead-up to the ashes in 2005.

First news...

Glenn McGrath back to his best:

The Poms woulent belive it but it seems McGrath is in absoulutly steller form after his injury lay-off. His bowling in the practice match in India has stunned the Aussie team. Econimical as always and with wickets to boot he looks dangerous.

Warne says that Harmison and Flintoff are key to Englands sucsess.

Apartently if those two are fit and fireing Warne belives it will be a close series. If not it will be an aussie clean sweep.

[Beny]

Borrowed shoes fit McGrath



October 4, 2004





Glenn McGrath warmed up for the first Test with his best spell in "I don't know how long" thanks to a lightweight pair of shoes borrowed from Shane Watson that put some spring back in the old man's step.

By all accounts, Watson is a good guy who would give you the shirt off his back, but in McGrath's case it was handing over a pair of size 12s that revitalised the veteran fast bowler on the eve of what is going to be a gruelling series against India.

McGrath was hugely optimistic about his Test prospects after taking 4-28 from 20.2 overs against Mumbai at Brabourne Stadium, an unwaveringly accurate and varied performance that suggested he was back to his penetrative best.

"That was the best it's felt in I don't know how long, quite a few years," said McGrath, whose 11-year Test career was in serious jeopardy earlier this year when ankle troubles persisted.

"I tried something different - I tried lighter boots.

"My normal boots are a kilo each and these are half a kilo. It made me feel so much lighter. I felt I was running in well and my follow through, which is always a key to how well I'm bowling, felt as light as it's been for a long time.

"I was mixing it up a lot to try every type of ball and they were coming out really well. I couldn't be happier after this match. I came off after bowling and I had that much energy, I couldn't sit still."

McGrath, whose preparations for India hit a snag last month when he conceded 0-46 from eight lacklustre overs in the Champions Trophy semi-final against England, was forced to search for new boots when his regular model went out of stock.

"They (Puma) made up a new batch, but they only had four left and they weren't going to make them anymore," said McGrath.

"I had to change sooner or later.

"I found in that last game in England that it just felt really heavy and I wasn't hitting the crease. In the nets I've been bowling in half-spikes, and they felt quite good.

"Watto had another pair of full-spike Puma ones, low-cut, and I tried them and I couldn't be happier. He had a couple of pairs and said I could break them in for him. He's not getting them back now and I've asked for more to be sent over."

Test captain and wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist barely had to move when McGrath was bowling because the line was so deadly straight. Two of McGrath's three wickets on the final day were from LBW decisions and there could have been a couple more.

"I thought he was outstanding in what he did," said Gilchrist.

"He was back to what we've come to expect from him.

"Because he hasn't had a chance to have that extended hit-out, it's been hard to know where he's at. In one-dayers it's hard to monitor and judge what he's doing and I think he had a little bit of uncertainness about where he was in his whole rehabilitation and re-entry to the game.

"So he'll gain a lot out of that."

The first Test starts on Wednesday at Bangalore.



© aap