Ponting still laments McGrath’s loss when bowling at the death in ODIs
By ANIThursday, October 29, 2009
NAGPUR/NEW DELHI -Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes his limited overs bowling attack is still missing the late innings skills of former fast bowler Glenn McGrath, more than two and a half years after he retired.
While Cricket Australia has praised the rebuilding efforts that have taken place since McGrath and other members of the team’s “golden generation” retired, Ponting admitted he was yet to see another bowler who could constrict an opposition’s hitting at the death quite so effectively.
“It has been (an issue) for a long time, ever since Pigeon (McGrath) moved on, bowling at the death, ” Fox Sports quoted Ponting, as saying.
“We have mixed and matched trying new guys over the past few years to try and find the guys that can do that well for us,” he added.
Ponting said that he knew before the Nagpur match that without Brett Lee and James Hopes his attack would be weakened, but his decision to field first and allow his batsmen to chase simply exposed the attack to a hungry opponent in perfect conditions.
“I guess it is not very often I do win the toss and bowl,” he said.
“The team balance has been thrown out a bit with Hopes going out the side and Brett, our most experienced bowler, not being in the side,” Ponting said. (ANI)
