This Day That Year: Glenn McGrath took his 500th Test wicket
The right-arm pace bowler from Australia, Glenn McGrath
achieved the feat of taking 500th Test wicket during the 1st
Ashes Test match at Lords played on 21st July 2005.
Australian captain Ricky Ponting won the toss and decided to
bat first. The decision did not pay off as the visitors were bowled out for
just 190. Justin Langer was the top scorer for the Aussies with 40.
Soon after the tea break, McGrath got the wicket of Marcus
Trescothick at third slips for four runs. He joined the list of bowlers to take
500 wickets in Test matches. McGrath was simply sensational with his line and length
as he grabbed 5 for 53 in 18 overs. His spell helped Australia bowl out the
hosts England for a paltry total of 155.
Australia batted very well in the 2nd innings as
they posted 384 runs. Michael Clarke 91, Damien Martyn 65, Simon Katich 67,
Ricky Ponting 42, Hayden 34. In the 2nd innings also, McGrath continued
his performance with 4 for 29 in 17.1 overs leading Australia to a massive 239
runs win. For his 9 wickets in the match, McGrath was named the man of the match.
McGrath was a top-quality bowling stump to stump not
allowing the batsmen to score runs easily. It is a tough ask for any fast bowler
especially in Test Cricket to grab wickets consistently.
McGrath finished his Test career with 563 wickets from 124
matches (243 innings). He had career-best figures of 8 for 24 in an innings.
The medium pace bowler took a total of 29 five-wicket hauls in an innings and 3
times 10 wicket haul in a match.
He played with likes of Australian greats Ricky Ponting,
Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden dominating world Cricket for a long time. His
final Test match was against England on 2nd January 2007 at SCG.
During this match, McGrath took 3 wickets each in the Test match leading
Australia to a commanding 10 wicket win.
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| This Day That Year: Glenn McGrath achieved the feat of taking 500 wickets in Test career |
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