DUBAI — Retired Australian fast bowler Glenn Donald McGrath sees the formation of the Indian Cricket League as an "interesting opportunity" for players. Recent media reports said India's Zee Telefilms have contacted some of the top international players including himself, Shane Warne, Brian Lara and Inzamamul Haq for the 'unofficial' Twenty20 league that offers a prizemoney of over $1 million.

The launch in India is expected after the ICC Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa in September this year.

Though the 37-year old McGrath — who is in the city to attend the Chevrolet Cricket Show — refused to go into the details, the World Cup record holder gave enough indication that he is all game for it.

'I am also reading a lot about it from the newspapers. I knew nothing of it. It is still in its initial stages, I guess. I haven't said yes or no. It is an interesting opportunity. Right now, I am spending time with my family.'

While talking to mediamen here at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel Conference Room yesterday, McGrath talked at length about his memorable experiences from an outstanding 14-year international career.

Asked to choose one favourite moment from his illustrious career, the veteran fast bowler said, 'It's difficult to pick one particular moment alone. From the team's point of view, there were quite a few...like the victory in ICC Champions Trophy, the '95 tour to West Indies, the Indian tour of 2004, and the wins in the various World Cups. Each World Cup was memorable for different reasons.

'But from a personal point of view, the first time when I bagged my five-wicket haul was a big moment. It gave me a lot of confidence. Then when I reached my 500th Test wicket, it gave me a lot of satisfaction. It was my goal to achieve a minimum of 500 wickets in Test cricket. It has been an amazing 14 years.'

The bowling legend bagged 563 wickets from his 124 Tests.

Like many top bowlers McGrath had a go at batsmen verbally during his career.

McGrath, nicknamed as Pigeon, believes sledging didn't always work in his favour. There were exceptions too — like a Sachin Tendulkar or Brian Lara — who he believes couldn't be cowed down with words alone.

'Sometimes, it helps good batsmen to focus on their game more when you try to unsettle them with words.'

'In Sachin's case, a couple of times I didn't say anything at all. Still he went after me. It was a sort of a role-reversal in the ICC Champions Trophy match in Kenya. He smashed us all over and got victory for India there.

'You probably have to pick and choose,' McGrath said about his sledging-strategy.

The World Cup Player of the Tournament doesn't see any immediate threat to Australia's supremacy. If at all there's a cause for concern, it is not due to his retirement, but that of Shane Warne, he reckons.

'The pace department is all fine with players like Brett Lee, Shaun Tait, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Bracken and Shane Watson doing well.

'The big challenge is going to be who will fill Warney's shoes?

'It's nearly impossible to find a replacement for Warne.

'It's a challenge,' he added.

Asked to name five batsmen who he rates high, McGrath said India's V.V.S Laxman, South Africa's Jaques Kallis and Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya were in his favourite list headed by Lara and Tendulkar.

The stalwart also doesn't believe that he is Australia's best bowler. 'Warne is the best bowler. In pace bowling I always admired and looked upto Dennis Lillee. Just to be compared with him is enough,' he added.

McGrath, who is renowned for predicting scorelines and 'targetting' batsmen before any important series, said, 'I couldn't say Australia would draw a series or lose a game. We believe we can win every single game out there. It has more to do with our postive outlook.'

Source: Adur Pradeep, Khaleej Times 

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3.21 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."