Ashes 2023: "It Was Tough Sitting There And Watching" - Glenn McGrath Opens Up On His Infamous Injury During Ashes 2005
Published - 27 Apr 2023, 08:42 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:15 AM
Glenn McGrath, the ex-Australian cricket star, has disclosed details about the injury that prevented him from playing in the second Test of the 2005 Ashes series. McGrath shared that he accidentally stepped on a cricket ball while attempting to pick up a rugby ball.
In the initial match of the 2005 Ashes series, Glenn McGrath played a crucial role in Australia’s 239-run victory over England at Lord’s by taking nine wickets.
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However, he missed the second Ashes Test due to an ankle injury he sustained while stepping on a cricket ball. In addition, during the series, McGrath also faced an elbow problem as Australia lost the series 2-1.
Despite missing the second Ashes Test due to injury, Glenn McGrath made a comeback in the third Test and claimed five wickets. However, he believed that England gained a psychological advantage in the second Test owing to his absence. McGrath also mentioned that if Australia had won the Edgbaston Test, it would have severely impacted England’s chances of winning the series.
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All Of A Sudden I Am Not Playing: Glenn McGrath
Glenn McGrath spoke to BBC Sport and recollected how he failed to notice the cricket balls set out for the warm-up drills and instead attempted to grab a rugby league ball, resulting in his injury. The 53-year-old expressed regret over not following their usual warm-up routine that day.
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“We had a look at the pitch and were standing around chatting. Brad Haddin picked up a rugby league ball and we were passing it back and forth. He rates himself, but threw a rubbish pass that bounced halfway and rolled along the ground. I turned to pick the ball up, but what I hadn’t seen were the cricket balls that had been put out for when we did start the warm-up.”
“My first step was on the ball. I still don’t remember seeing it, but I remember feeling it. To think if we’d just stuck to the normal routine. Routines are very important to cricketers, routines are very important to me, but we changed our routine before that game. It was tough sitting there watching. Not so much that we lost, but I always wonder what positive impact could I have had on the team. It’s not so much the bowling impact, it’s the impact on the mental state of the opposition.”
“All of a sudden, I’m not playing. I’d bowled well at Lord’s, then I’m out, which gives a lift to the opposition that wouldn’t have been there otherwise. If we had got those last three runs, it would have killed the series there and then. England’s confidence would have been shattered.”
The Ashes 2005 second Test match held at Edgbaston is widely regarded as one of the most thrilling matches in cricket history, with England ultimately winning by a margin of just two runs. Australia were chasing a target of 282 runs and were struggling at 175/8, with their last specialist batsman, Michael Clarke, getting out for 30 runs.
However, the trio of Brett Lee, Shane Warne, and Michael Kasprowicz fought hard and took Australia closer to the target. In the end, Kasprowicz was caught by Geraint Jones behind the stumps, resulting in Australia’s defeat.
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