Tendulkar vs McGrath - The battle of stalwarts

The Cricket is a team sport. The teamwork wins you matches, but apart from the teamwork, there is something called individual battle. There have been many such instances where the bowler and the batsman involve in some competitive battle where one tries to better the other and the cricket fans are served with so much entertainment and enthusiasm.

Tendulkar-McGrath battle served their fans with some eye catching actions.

Today we will talk about the individuals who competed every time when they stepped out on the field and their fans enjoyed those battles more than what they enjoyed throughout the games. Yes, I am talking about the on-field battle between Sachin Tendulkar and Glenn McGrath. Both these players were truly sensational for their respective teams in terms of performances. In many matches Tendulkar smashed McGrath and the later did not have the answer to the great man. While on other end there are many occasions when McGrath got the better of Tendulkar. McGrath dismissed Tendulkar a total of 13 times in international cricket, 6 times in tests and 7 times in ODIs.

Let’s take a look at the top 4 battles between Sachin Tendulkar and Glenn McGrath:

India vs Australia, Wills World Cup 1996, Wankhede Stadium – Mumbai

India vs Australia match in 1996 World Cup was played at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai. The fans were waiting for Tendulkar-McGrath contest more than they were waiting for this match. Australia won the toss and they decided to bat first. Australia scored 258 from 50 overs on the back of a scintillating century from Mark Waugh (126). Tendulkar was in blistering form in this tournament. He started attacking McGrath right from the outset. Tendulkar smashed a total of 90 runs from 84 balls with 14 fours and a six. Unfortunately, India lost this game by 16 runs, but this individual contest was won by Tendulkar on this occasion.

India vs Australia, Border-Gavaskar Series, First test -  Adelaide

McGrath got Tendulkar LBW on shoulder in first test in 1999 series at Adelaide. 

This was the first test match of the Border-Gavaskar trophy in 1999. Australia had won the toss earlier and decided to bat first. Australia scored 441 in their first innings, while India were all-out on 285 in their first innings. Australia declared their second innings at 238/9 giving India the target of 396 runs in fourth innings. India didn’t get a good start and were struggling at 24/3 when Tendulkar walked in. McGrath was bowling tight lines. After a few deliveries, he bowled a bouncer which didn’t rise that much and hit on the shoulder of a ducking Tendulkar, there was a loud appeal from the Australians and the umpire Daryl Harper raised his finger. This decision didn’t go down well with Tendulkar and he was not happy. Nevertheless, McGrath got the better of Tendulkar this time around.

 “I bowled a bouncer to unsettle Tendulkar as he had just arrived at the crease and was batting at 0. The ball did not bounce that much and hit him on his shoulder, and I could see the bails visible after he ducked because he was not a tall guy around, and I thought it might have gone on to hit the stumps. So, I appealed, and Daryl Harper gave him out. Tendulkar was not so happy with that decision as he might have thought it to be going over the stumps.” – McGrath said this while recalling this memory.

India vs Australia, ICC Knockout Cup 2000, Nairobi – Kenya

McGrath had no answer as Tendulkar shown his calls in Knockout cup match at Nairobi in 2000.

A new look Indian side faced Australia in this all-important match in the ICC Knockout cup. Australia won the toss and elected to field first. Tendulkar-Ganguly combo started to attack the Aussie bowlers straightway. Tendulkar never allowed McGrath to settle this time around and kept hitting boundaries against him. Tendulkar hit 3 sixes and 2 fours against McGrath in this match and provided a blistering start to the Indian innings. India later went on to win the match by 20 runs. So, this was the another Tendulkar-McGrath contest which was won by Tendulkar.

“This was the match where I sledged Glenn McGrath, as I thought that if he was unsettled then it would be an advantage to us.” – Tendulkar said recalling this memory.

“When he hit a boundary and I was heading back towards my run-up, I heard someone chirping (sledging) behind me and when I turned back, it was Tendulkar. This was unusual for me as he never spoke like this before” – McGrath said recalling this memory.

India vs Australia, ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 Final, Wanderers – Johannesburg

Tendulkar was dismissed at the score of 4 by McGrath in 2003 World Cup Final.

This was probably the match which the Indian fans never want to remember. This was the Final of the 2003 World Cup which was played in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya. India won the toss and decided to bowl first. Australia posted a mammoth total of 359/2 from 50 overs on the back of their captain Ricky Ponting’s breath-taking century and his partnership with Damien Martyn. In reply, everyone expected a big innings from Tendulkar in order to win the World Cup for India. Tendulkar played first 3 balls of McGrath pretty cautiously and pulled him next ball for four. But, the very next ball after that was hearth-breaking for each and every Indian fan in the stadium, or at the home watching this live telecast as Tendulkar was caught and bowled by McGrath, mistiming a pull shot. Many had switched-off their TV from then on. This was the biggest battle that was won by McGrath.

“I have been travelling to India since so many years and I enjoy being here while coaching, etc. So, this is my second home. I still hear people talking that they would never forgive me for taking Tendulkar’s wicket in 2003 World Cup Final” – Glenn McGrath.

Sachin Tendulkar and Glenn McGrath are good friends off the field

Apart from all above, Tendulkar and McGrath had many other such contests and provided so much excitement to their fans. Tendulkar and McGrath are very good friends off the field and admire each other a lot.

Thanks

Rahul


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