Zimbabwe fear McGrath factor (9 June 1999)

9 June 1999

Zimbabwe fear McGrath factor

Charles Randall

Zimbabwe's giddy ride continues at the top of the Super Six table today, with Australia as their opponents and Lord's, at near capacity, the venue.

The Africans' only previous assignment at headquarters was to trim Holland 13 years ago in the ICC Trophy final, and one can be quite sure spectators were not paying up to £60 for a ticket.

Surprisingly perhaps, the 'value for money' theme is a constant one in the Zimbabwe dressing room. Dave Houghton, their coach, said yesterday: "I look on it that we're not only cricketers, we're entertainers. It's our job to go out and entertain. I mention that a lot in team talks, particularly just before we field, telling them to 'go out and put on a show'.

"Playing at Lord's is the same for every cricketer in the world - it's the home of cricket and everybody wants to be here."

Zimbabwe had their first full tour of England next year in mind when they secured Graham Dilley, the former England fast bowler, as their bowling consultant after his brief stint with Scotland.

During net practice at Lord's yesterday, Dilley said: "There are mental aspects to work on, for example the bowlers have to be aware of the slope and they mustn't overcompensate."

A crucial part of this game for the Zimbabwean entertainers - more humdrum than spectacular in the field - will be dealing with Glenn McGrath, the fast bowler the Australians hope will decide the match as he did against India down at the Oval last Friday. No Zimbabwean was trying to play down the McGrath factor yesterday.

Australia have beaten Zimbabwe 10 times in 11 one-day meetings, though the results have become closer. Their only defeat was in the 1983 World Cup at Nottingham when Houghton was a player.

Zimbabwe's one point for their let-off by rain against New Zealand at Leeds on Monday has taken them to the brink of the semi-finals. A worst case scenario, apart from a cluster of rained-off matches, would be to finish equal fourth with New Zealand and fail on run-rate.

Source :: The Electronic Telegraph