Given a challenge by Harsha Bhogle during the post-match show Glenn McGrath could recall each of his 563 wickets and the manner in which he got them
For viewers in India on Sony Sports Network for the India vs Australia Border-Gavaskar series, former Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath has been a breath of fresh air.
Not just his voice and insights, his memory has left one and all impressed. As soon as the day's play ends, Glenn McGrath's jog-the-memory-lane work starts. The show's presenter and fellow commentator Harsha Bhogle keeps throwing numbers at him and McGrath keeps giving the answers correctly.
Any number from 0 to 563 of his Test wickets are randomly thrown at him and McGrath not just is able to recall the dismissal but also the manner in which he got them.
During the shows of first Test last week, McGrath said that he might not be able to guess them all since he was a bit rusty.
“When I had about 380 (Test wickets), I could picture each one in my mind and was able to write down exactly how I got them out,” he had said.
But magically he went on to answer them all one after the other correctly.
He had a method to this. He remembered how many wickets he had before every tour started and then he tries to remeber it from there.
These were some of the numbers Bhogle threw at McGrath:
Number: 273
McGrath: So, my 250th was Ijaz Ahmed in Hobart. Finished that series with 258. Next was India, where I picked up 18 wickets so that’s 276. Got 10-fer in Sydney, 5 & 5. So would be 2nd wicket in 2nd innings. MSK Prasad was first, then Rahul Dravid was 273.
Number: 300
McGrath: Oh 300, remember that. This was a nice one. WACA. Against West Indies. Started with 298. 299th was Sherwin Campbell. 300th was Brian Lara, walks in and edges to MacGill first ball. And then next ball Adams for my hat-trick.
Number: 421
McGrath: 400th was Waqar, LBW at Sharjah. Finished with 403. Then Ashes at home. 19 in that series, finished with 422. Didn’t play Sydney so this was MCG, Boxing Day. Picked up only 2. Last was Nasser. So 1st inns might’ve been (lol) Vaughan. Think I bowled him.
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