 This
year's IPL was prone to this one sight that was unfathomable for the player in
question whilst he was still active in international cricket. Former Australian
bowler and one of the true all-time-greats of the game, Glenn McGrath was
consistently seen to be cooling his heels on the sidelines as his team, the
Delhi Daredevils opted to not play him. Not that his side did not play a single
overseas paceman as his fellow Australian mate, Dirk Nannes was preferred over
McGrath to lead the attack. Pigeon, as McGrath is nicknamed, in his various interviews
has often stated, like a true team man, that he's fine with whatever the team
thinks is the right composition.
But in a newspaper column on the eve of his team's semi-final clash against
the Deccan Chargers, he did give a glimpse of how hurt he was from within.
Moreover, he went on to say that there was a chance that he may choose to not
participate in next year's IPL. The 124-Test veteran also said that he was privy
to a theory going around that he may have been benched as the team management
had doubts over his fitness. This has apparently hurt him even more as the professional
that he's been over the years was not even given a single chance to prove his
match-fitness. Though his contract to play for the season of 2010 as well, 'Pigeon'
did hint that he may not be too keen to return.
In a separate story but one that has its links with McGrath's tale stated above,
coach of the Delhi Daredevils, Greg Shipperd has joined the chorus of people
who've been pitching in for more foreigners to be included in a playing XI.
Earlier, John Buchanan too had stated that he'd want to have more number of
overseas players in his side. The IPL on previous occasions have quite categorically
stated that this demand would not be adhered to and Stephen Fleming, coach of
the Chennai Super Kings also seemed to go along with the rulings of the
IPL governing council. In their opinion, it's the 'Indian' Premier League after
all and its only fair that more number of Indian players benefit from the experience
of playing in front of such a big stage.
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