AN AUSTRALIAN cricketer speaking to a theatre full of ‘Poms’ weeks before an Ashes series is a rather daunting prospect.
But there was nothing but respect for legendary bowler Glenn McGrath as he took to the Hexagon for an evening of Ashes-related anecdotes, jibes and laughter.
Also featuring the BBC’s voice of cricket Jonathan Agnew, Test Match Special Live brought the famous 2005 Ashes and that game at Headingley in 2019 to life, with McGrath narrating a play-by-play account of the freak injury which kept him out of the Edgbaston test.
McGrath, who is generally regarded as one of the best bowlers the sport has ever seen, also spoke about playing alongside former teammate and friend, Shane Warne, who sadly died last year.
The authentic chemistry between ‘Aggers’ and McGrath almost had the audience forgetting they were dealing with a man who spent most of the 1990s and 2000s tormenting English batsmen.
But there were shots fired as the pair looked ahead to this summer’s highly-anticipated Ashes match-up. With Agnew waxing lyrical about captain Ben Stokes’ and coach Brendon McCullum’s so-called ‘Bazball’ renaissance, McGrath was quick to remind the audience both were born in New Zealand.
The evening set the scene perfectly for the series which begins on Friday, June 16.
