When McGrath mastered the Master

[I6MTW]

Steyn Akhtar Walsh/Ambrose too I guess.

Don't forget Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock,Wasim Akram,younis etc.

[Raghav_12]

I think in battle between McGrath and Sachin, McGrath had upper hand, though not by much. McGrath has been greatest of last 20 yrs along with Ambrose, so it's only logical that Sachin's average goes down when playing MacGrath. I think when people look at H2H between a top batsman and top bowler they take it in wrong manner. If against a great bowler a great batman averages say 40 (10 less than his average of 50) than it's not failure of batman only as bowler also got his average inflated by 15 (assuming an average of 25 for bowler). So it more of a failure for bowler. Coming back to McGrath vs Sachin battle I think Ind-Aus series of 99-00 provides the correct picture. In 3 test match series Sachin scored 278 runs @46.33 with 1 hundred and 2 50's. http://static.espncricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1999-2000/IND_IN_AUS/STATS/IND_IN_AUS_NOV1999-FEB2000_TEST_AVS.html Not extraordinary numbers but good numbers, considering the strength of Aussie side (McGrath was at his peak) and absolute lack of strength of Indian team. If you remove Laxman's maiden century which anyways came when everything was lost, no Indian batsmen averaged even 30. If you supplement these facts with some atrocious decisions which Sachin got on tour, you can very well say that Sachin wasn't impacted by McGrath by a great extent. When discussing h2h between these two, you can't leave behind the fact that bowling for a strong side provides huge advantage to bowlers as you mostly have enough runs to play with. Sachin's failure against McGrath in 2003 WC was because of huge pile of runs he was looking at, courtsey inept bowling of India, and he was forced to play such indiscreet shot too early in the innings. Remember 350 plus scores were very uncommon 10 years and batsmen had little clue how to go about these tall chases. So, in my opinion McGrath was slightly ahead of Sachin in their personal battle. However McGrath had definite hold over Lara.

[Crookbond]

As far as McGrath over Lara is concerned, Lara never gave jack sh!t about it. http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/375538.html

His nemesis in international cricket for a long time was Glenn McGrath, whose success against Brian was based on his ability to exploit the angle of bowling around the wicket. When Glenn came around the wicket to Brian it was almost a given that he would edge to slip. This was a matter of hot debate in our dressing room: many are the times we have tried to replicate the strategy, many are the times I have watched other teams attempt to do so, both with no great continued success. So the question remains: was it really the one technical chink in Brian's armour or was it McGrath's special ability? Murali, wanting an answer, in his own direct and engagingly blunt fashion asked Brian himself when we were having dinner together at Mahaweli Reach in Kandy once. "Brian," Murali said, "why are you getting out all the time to McGrath?" Brian's answer was: "Murali, I have to get out somehow, and if I get out to McGrath, so what, it does not bother me." He simply did not believe there was a problem.

Truly calypso!

[vamos_rafa]

Surprised that the article did not mention the most riveting phase of the test series, i.e in the 3rd test. The match was in the balance and with Ganguly dismissed in the morning, Sachin and Dravid did a lot of work. The, in the post lunch session, the way Sachin- McGrath battle panned out was stuff for the legends. Bowling short stuffs and with all sledging going on, Sachin did not budge and compiled a masterly, match-winning 100. And numbers may not suggest, but Sachin has failed in all only 3 tests out of the 9 that he has played against Oz when Glenn was around. Other than that, he has scored atleast 45 in all other tests.

[daryl1985]

I think in battle between McGrath and Sachin, McGrath had upper hand, though not by much. McGrath has been greatest of last 20 yrs along with Ambrose, so it's only logical that Sachin's average goes down when playing MacGrath. I think when people look at H2H between a top batsman and top bowler they take it in wrong manner. If against a great bowler a great batman averages say 40 (10 less than his average of 50) than it's not failure of batman only as bowler also got his average inflated by 15 (assuming an average of 25 for bowler). So it more of a failure for bowler. Coming back to McGrath vs Sachin battle I think Ind-Aus series of 99-00 provides the correct picture. In 3 test match series Sachin scored 278 runs @46.33 with 1 hundred and 2 50's. http://static.espncricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1999-2000/IND_IN_AUS/STATS/IND_IN_AUS_NOV1999-FEB2000_TEST_AVS.html Not extraordinary numbers but good numbers, considering the strength of Aussie side (McGrath was at his peak) and absolute lack of strength of Indian team. If you remove Laxman's maiden century which anyways came when everything was lost, no Indian batsmen averaged even 30. If you supplement these facts with some atrocious decisions which Sachin got on tour, you can very well say that Sachin wasn't impacted by McGrath by a great extent. When discussing h2h between these two, you can't leave behind the fact that bowling for a strong side provides huge advantage to bowlers as you mostly have enough runs to play with. Sachin's failure against McGrath in 2003 WC was because of huge pile of runs he was looking at, courtsey inept bowling of India, and he was forced to play such indiscreet shot too early in the innings. Remember 350 plus scores were very uncommon 10 years and batsmen had little clue how to go about these tall chases. So, in my opinion McGrath was slightly ahead of Sachin in their personal battle. However McGrath had definite hold over Lara.

Lara had a good average against Australia when McGrath was playing. McGrath dismissed him loads of times but Lara also played some superb innings and scored plenty of run. In terms of the best against McGrath, KP is the best i have seen. I think tall batsman could negotiate his extra bounce better than short batsman.

[The Outsider]

I think in battle between McGrath and Sachin, McGrath had upper hand, though not by much. McGrath has been greatest of last 20 yrs along with Ambrose, so it's only logical that Sachin's average goes down when playing MacGrath. I think when people look at H2H between a top batsman and top bowler they take it in wrong manner. If against a great bowler a great batman averages say 40 (10 less than his average of 50) than it's not failure of batman only as bowler also got his average inflated by 15 (assuming an average of 25 for bowler). So it more of a failure for bowler.

Head to head McGrath-Tendulkar is not in the 40 range, but the average is around 15. http://indiancricketfans.com/showpost.php?p=1765513&postcount=485

[Austin 3:!6]

The dule between Mcgrath and Sachin was most thrilling in the last decade as both the players look to dominate each other. Sometimes Mcgrath had Sachin's number, sometimes its vice versa. 1996 WC, 2000 Nairobi Champions league, 2002 Odi series in India, Sydney test in 1999 are occassions where Sachin brutally attacked Mcgrath. 1999 WC, 1999 test series in Aust (except Sydney) Mcgrath had Sachin's number. So its a 50:50 between these 2 legends.

[Marut]

Mcgrath owned Sachin. Actually if you look at the numbers, Sachin's performance against top quality pace bowlers in tests is not that great. Midget is overrated. SMG is still the only little master.

Old is gold, eh? Gavaskar played 3 matches against Aus involving Lillee. He averages 19.66. In 8 matches against NZ involving Hadlee, he averages 35.71 with one century. Against Windies with one or more of Holding, Garner or Roberts, he averages 42 with 5 centuries. Without any of these 3 legends in the team, Gavaskar averages 115+ with 8centuries, showing how much he was troubled by these bowlers. All great batsmen struggled against some really good bowlers, whether it be Tendulkar, Lara, Sunny or Dravid.

[vamos_rafa]

Old is gold, eh? Gavaskar played 3 matches against Aus involving Lillee. He averages 19.66. In 8 matches against NZ involving Hadlee, he averages 35.71 with one century. Against Windies with one or more of Holding, Garner or Roberts, he averages 42 with 5 centuries. Without any of these 3 legends in the team, Gavaskar averages 115+ with 8centuries, showing how much he was troubled by these bowlers. All great batsmen struggled against some really good bowlers, whether it be Tendulkar, Lara, Sunny or Dravid.

Arre Danda is the biggest fan of SRT. Just that he's dissapointed with his recent performances and hence speaks a bit like this :winky:

[Marut]

I am also disappointed with his recent performances.:haha:

[Raghav_12]

I am also disappointed with his recent performances.:haha:

I am sure, he himself is. By prolonging his career he wants to undo what has happened in last 2 years but in process he is digging a deeper hole. I am sure if he had got bumper returns in one of the last series', he would have retired. But this mirage of putting blot of aus/eng away is becoming his nemesis.

[vvvslaxman]

Having closely followed the duel right through their career i would say 60/40 Mcgrath. But in case of Donald vs Sachin i would 70/30 in favor of Donald. Lot of them won't find in stat. He is one guy who made him very uncomfortable besides Ambrose i(n one series). When Ambrose is at his very best i don't think many batsman can do anything. Having said that Dravid played Ambrose immaculately in the same series.

[vvvslaxman]

The dule between Mcgrath and Sachin was most thrilling in the last decade as both the players look to dominate each other. Sometimes Mcgrath had Sachin's number, sometimes its vice versa. 1996 WC, 2000 Nairobi Champions league, 2002 Odi series in India, Sydney test in 1999 are occassions where Sachin brutally attacked Mcgrath. 1999 WC, 1999 test series in Aust (except Sydney) Mcgrath had Sachin's number. So its a 50:50 between these 2 legends.

Actually at Sachin's very peak he encountered Donald, Mcgrath in the same side. He played both of them very well. But the guy who handled Mcgrath better was Aravinda de silva. What a pocket little dynamo he was. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwMGUXOdcLU]Aravinda De Silva 82 Vs MCC 1998 - YouTube[/ame] Watch Aravinda at 1:42 [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C72dVXdk_E8]Princess Diana memorial cricket Lords 1998 Sachin Tendulkar 125 Part 1/2 - YouTube[/ame]

[Raghav_12]

Having closely followed the duel right through their career i would say 60/40 Mcgrath. But in case of Donald vs Sachin i would 70/30 in favor of Donald. Lot of them won't find in stat. He is one guy who made him very uncomfortable besides Ambrose i(n one series). When Ambrose is at his very best i don't think many batsman can do anything. Having said that Dravid played Ambrose immaculately in the same series.

I agree with McGrath being superior by 60 40, but don't agree with Donald having upper hand. His relatively poor average in SA (until last series) was because he lost his wicket many times to Hansie Cronje. I recall few innings where is bludgeoned Donald. In fact Cronje got him as many number of times as Donald did though Cronje would have bowled to him much less number of overs.

[Marut]

In battles between great batsmen and great bowlers, bowlers have a distinct edge. They need that one special delivery(s) to undo so many deliveries of skillful batting. So I don't go by mere averages or dismissals while evaluating which bowlers dominated which batsmen. You also have to watch the matches to see the comfort level of the batsmen - how many misses, hits on the pads, missed catches, how many dominant shots, how many skillful defensive shots and many other factors. The average by itself is a useful parameter but not the final thing. Bowlers can go all out against batsmen, but batsmen cannot afford to be aggressive (unless you are a certain Sehwag!) and smash good bowlers out of the park, though they may be capable of doing that. Intelligent batsmen see out tough bowlers and aren't worried about their image - in the final analyis, the total runs you score matters for your team and not what you scored against particular bowlers.

[BeautifulGame]

Sachin always had this wierd issue with mediud fast bowlers not just Cronje.Remember Razzaq getting him out a few times to.And a pak medium fats bowler (Atur- Rehman) will be the one who usually get him out in Sharjah after Sachin comfortably playing Akram and Waqar.

[Lurker]

In battles between great batsmen and great bowlers' date= bowlers have a distinct edge. They need that one special delivery(s) to undo so many deliveries of skillful batting. So I don't go by mere averages or dismissals while evaluating which bowlers dominated which batsmen. You also have to watch the matches to see the comfort level of the batsmen - how many misses, hits on the pads, missed catches, how many dominant shots, how many skillful defensive shots and many other factors. The average by itself is a useful parameter but not the final thing. Bowlers can go all out against batsmen, but batsmen cannot afford to be aggressive (unless you are a certain Sehwag!) and smash good bowlers out of the park, though they may be capable of doing that. Intelligent batsmen see out tough bowlers and aren't worried about their image - in the final analyis, the total runs you score matters for your team and not what you scored against particular bowlers.

By that yardstick SRT wont hold a candle to even Alan Border, let alone Sunny Gavaskar. That specific post of yours that has been quoted shoud make a very strong case why Viv Richards is the most dominating batsman of last 30 years.

[putrevus]

Chasing 350 was uncommon but getting out for 4 in first over without ever giving a chance to yourself was not great decision either. Indian chased 325 in 2002 and that joburg pitch was a flat a cement as evidenced by score Indians got , they just did not have enough wickets in hand.They not have finished the chase but sure they could have gotten lot close had Sachin stuck around. They flat out panicked which included Sachin, Ganguly.Mcgrath went for plenty in that match. Mcgrath flat out dominated Sachin thru their careers.

[Bumper]

If ever I saw a batsman who dominated Macgrath comfortably it was Laxman.

I thought KP played McGrath well. As for Sachin, rivalry with McGrath was prolly a topic worth discussion till 2004. Recently, he's been the proverbial "washed up w.h.0.r.e" who has been pissed on & farked by every passer-by. Almost every bowler from every team has dominated him at some point or the other.

[Deleted_User_1]

I thought KP played McGrath well. As for Sachin, rivalry with McGrath was prolly a topic worth discussion till 2004. Recently, he's been the proverbial "washed up w.h.0.r.e" who has been pissed on & farked by every passer-by. Almost every bowler from every team has dominated him at some point or the other.

Sad but so true......Only if he had retired after the WC win. Why oh why midget????