I am quite sad as i am writing my fourth tribute in a sequence of tributes to the true Legends Of World Cricket. After Brian Lara, Inzamam and Anil Kumble, McGrath announced his retirement from Cricket. Cricket is very fast becoming more human as all legends are retiring one by one. Now no one can see the top spin of Kumble, cut shot of Lara, power hitting of Inzamam and tight line length of McGrath. No farewell is better than getting the highest accolade (Man of series in the Crickets supreme tournament) in the last series and winning the World Cup for the team.
Indians do believe that Sachin gave a great fight to McGrath but when i look back at the history i only found Sachin struggling and giving his wicket in the very first over he faced. The first super six match in 1999 world cup was very crucial for India as well as for Australians as both teams had reached the super six stage with zero points. India crucially needed Sachin to fire as some 280 odd runs were required in 50 overs but McGrath had some other intentions and he single handedly demolished the much vaunted Indian top order including the prize scalp of Sachin in very first over. The same thing was repeated by McGrath in world cup 2003 final when he took the wicket of Sachin in the first over of India's inning.
I faintly remember the contribution of McGrath when Australia won the Frank Warrell series by defeating West Indies in 1994. In that series McGrath was a great reply to the fierce bowling pair of Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose. And from that series McGrath never looked back and now we all can see he has become a True legend.
Although he was never a gentleman on the field and he showed the same by referring Jayasurya as black monkey, spitting gesture to Lara and shameful duel with Ramnaresh Sarvan. The world will remember you as the greatest bowler it has ever seen.
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