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Class of their own McGrath, Warne emerge from slumps in time
Posted: Sunday June 20, 1999 02:43 PM
LONDON (Reuters) -- It is often said that form is temporary but class is permanent. That maxim could have been invented for Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath. The two bowlers emerged from personal slumps in form to play key roles in hauling Australia country back from the brink of elimination to become world champions for a second time. In Sunday's final Warne again proved to be the chief destroyer, with a match haul of four wickets while McGrath started and ended the tumble of wickets, giving away just 13 runs in the process with a supreme exhibition of controlled pace bowling. Warne's difficulties have been well documented. The shoulder injury that at one point threatened his career led to a disappointing tour of West Indies. Many in the game thought his days as an international player were numbered. However, Warne never lost faith in himself and, although his early games in the World Cup produced few telling deliveries, he said he was happy with his bowling. He showed glimpses of his best by taking two for 33 against South Africa in the final Super Six game and then undid the South Africans in the semifinal return. His four for 29 earned him the Man of the Match award but almost as important as his wickets was the uncertainty he engendered following the big turner that bowled opener Herschelle Gibbs. Three years ago Warne did the same in the semifinal against West Indies and then got thumped by Sri Lanka in Australia's defeat in the final held in Lahore. At Lord's he ensured there would be no repeat with another four-wicket haul and another Man of the Match award. His four victims left him level with New Zealand's Geoff Allot with a World Cup record 20 wickets in a single tournament. "I suppose a couple of big games have brought out the best of me," Warne said after Sunday's triumph. "I woke up today determined to make amends for the '96 final. "I've had a lot of support over the last few months. It's been tough but the support has been appreciated. "I felt good today. I tried a few wrong 'uns, a few flippers, I enjoyed it." McGrath's two for 13 return from nine overs was achieved with the help of superlative slip catches by Mark Waugh and Ricky Ponting. In between, he bowled with relentless accuracy, conceding just one boundary. It was all a far cry from the May version of Glenn McGrath. He began the tournament as first change bowler and was unable to make an impact, managing only one wicket in each game against Scotland, New Zealand and Pakistan. Steve Waugh's decision to hand his main strike bowler the new ball, combined with the introduction of all-rounder Tom Moody, transformed Australia and set them on the way to the seven-game unbeaten run that culminated in Sunday's victory. McGrath took five for 14 against West Indies in the group stage, the best bowling performance of the tournament. His haul included Brian Lara, bowled by a ball deemed virtually unplayable, as well as top-order batsmen Ridley Jacobs and Jimmy Adams. In Australia's first Super Six game McGrath was again at his best with three for 34 against India. He not only claimed the prized wicket of Sachin Tendulkar but also Rahul Dravid, the tournament's top scorer, and Mohammad Azharuddin to end India's hopes almost before they began. He took only one wicket in each of the two clashes with South Arica but on Sunday on the biggest stage of all he was supreme. Captain Steve Waugh was delighted with the Warne-McGrath contribution. "Shane and Glenn bowled superbly but the other three, Tom Moody, Paul Reiffel and Damien Fleming probably don't get the credit the top line bowlers do," said Waugh. "It really was a great team effort."
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