Concerns over McGrath

Former Australian internationals Geoff Lawson and Ian Chappell have questioned why Glenn McGrath has been rushed back into international cricket for the ICC Champions Trophy, and cast doubt over the champion paceman’s future after his scratchy start to the tournament.

Referring to the way in which the English bowlers took to him in Australia’s second match in Jaipur, Lawson suggests that while his intensity and discipline could never be doubted it is possible that his body is no longer able to handle the workload.

Chappell agreed with those sentiments and said that McGrath will have to find “a bit more pace and nip” during the Ashes if his record-breaking wicket-taking partnership with Shane Warne is not to be diminished.

Lawson also believes that it may have been a mistake to bring McGrath back into the Australian team for the Champions Trophy, saying that playing four-day games for New South Wales could have provided a better preparation for the gruelling test series ahead.

While casting doubt over his fitness at the present time, neither Lawson nor Chappell are ruling out the possibility that he will be every bit his old self come the first test at the Gabba next month, just that he needs to do a bit of work to get there.