Glenn McGrath is one of the greatest bowlers to have graced the cricket field. The right-arm fast bowler from New South Wales had a legendary career for Australia in both Tests and ODIs. His test career was nothing short of a fairytale. The stats speak for themselves. McGrath played 124 test matches for Australia where he picked up 563 wickets at an astonishing average of 21.64. He delivered some mind-blowing performances in the whites for Australia which illuminated his career with greatness. Let’s take a look at his top 3 performances in test cricket.
#1. 8/24 vs Pakistan, 2004
Glenn McGrath bowled his greatest spell in test cricket against Pakistan at the famous WACA Ground in Perth. He made the Pakistan batters surrender in front of his bowling prowess. In the first innings, Australia registered a massive lead and Glenn McGrath with his lethal spell in the second innings absolutely blew Pakistan out of the match. He picked up 8 wickets giving just 24 runs in his 16 overs long spell. McGrath dismissed almost every Pakistani player including big names like Inzamam Ul Haq, Mohammad Yousuf, and Younis Khan. In the end, Australia registered a mammoth victory by 491 runs to demolish Pakistan.
#2. 8/38 vs England, 1997
This performance holds special significance in McGrath’s career as it came against arch-rivals England at the home of cricket, Lord’s. In the 2nd test of the series, he showed his potential by annihilating the English batting order. Australia restricted England to just 77 runs in the first innings. McGrath picked up 8 wickets to help Australia destroy England’s batting. He grabbed all the prominent names in the English batting order like Mike Atherton, Nasser Hussain, and Alec Stewart. The match ended in a draw but this special performance will always be significant in the Australia-England rivalry.
#3. 7/76 vs England, 1997
In the same series, he delivered another blinder of a performance that once again shook the roots of the English batting order. Exploiting the conditions in the first innings he troubled the English batters forcing them to make mistakes. At the very start of the innings, he dismissed Mark Butcher and Mike Atherton to give Australia an edge. He carried on the momentum further in the innings which caused a collapse. England was bowled out for 180 runs. McGrath ended up with 7 wickets in the first innings.