Courtesy: Google/Cricket Australia
Glenn McGrath, the former Australian cricketer, wants Aussie players to back themselves to beat India in the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) Test at the Gabba in Brisbane amidst the rain interruptions. The ongoing third BGT Test has been marred by rain on all three days, which has led to around 135 overs of play getting wasted, but despite that, Australia have found themselves in the ascendency.
Notably, at the close of play on day three, Australia had reduced India to 51/4 in 17 overs after posting a massive total of 445 runs on the board. The star of the show with the bat for the hosts were Travis Head and Steve Smith with their exceptional partnership of 241 runs, setting up the first innings with their respective hundreds before their fast bowlers were all over the Indian top order like a rash.
Back in our day, we probably would've declared: Glenn McGrath
While speaking to ABC Radio about Australia’s strategy to continue batting at the start of day three, Glenn McGrath remarked that if it were his team from back in the day, then they probably would have declared their innings to have a crack at the opposition batting lineup with rain in the area. He also spoke about how Australia should believe in themselves to dismiss India twice despite the rain, and said, “Back in our day, we probably would've declared. Back yourself to knock them over. You've got to consider the rain,” McGrath said.
The weather forecast in Brisbane for day four and five isn’t promising with regular showers and thunderstorms expected to interrupt play regularly at the Gabba just like day three. With that, the Australian bowlers might be needing to bowl India out before they go past 226 runs in their first innings, to enforce the follow-on, and dismiss them twice in the Gabba Test match for achieving a famous win.
