Brad gives Aussies a helping hand (12 June 1999)

12 June 1999

Brad gives Aussies a helping hand

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph

Haslingden professional Brad McNamara could lay claim to a tiny bit of credit if Australia go on to fulfil his prediction and win the World Cup.

The New South Wales all-rounder yesterday linked up with the Australian party ahead of their final Super Six showdown with South Africa at Headingley tomorrow.

And McNamara helped Steve Waugh's men fine tune their preparations for a potentially make-or-break clash by bowling in the nets to the Australian batting line-up.

Tournament favourites South Africa have already booked their place in the semi-finals but Australia may need their third Super Six win to join them in the last four.

"We may or may not need to win it but I will back us against South Africa," said McNamara. "In the last couple of years we have had the wood on them in the big matches.

"The bigger the games get, the better we seem to play, although that's not to say the other sides won't do the same."

McNamara, who will be back on EW Cartons Lancashire League duty for his club against Rishton tomorrow, rates tomorrow's combatants as the top two sides in the competition.

But he believes his countrymen will have the edge if they provide the bowling support for leading wicket-taker Glenn McGrath, who has revived Australia's fortunes after they struggled through their qualifying group.

"In a couple of games he's come on and demolished the top order and taken out the side's best batsmen. "The batting's been going very well and apart from McGrath and Damian Fleming we've just got to get our bowling right," added McNamara, who believes Australia's sluggish start was understandable.

"I think the guys were a bit tired after the tour of the Caribbean and it takes a bit of time to adjust, especially in England in May.

"But with the wickets drying out there seem to be a few runs being scored."

The wet spring has also held back McNamara, although he is still averaging 48 in the league to help Haslingden to the top of the table and into the semi-finals of the Worsley Cup.

"The conditions aren't very good and I'm struggling a little bit on the wickets. I haven't batted on a decent one yet.

"But we have got great depth and even without me we've managed to pull through.

"It's always hard on wet, slow wickets for what I bowl. But hopefully it will dry out and we can play some decent cricket and I can come into my own," he said.

Ironically the weather has been kind to Haslingden when they were struggling in games against Burnley and Rawtenstall. They therefore take an unbeaten record to Rishton tomorrow as they continue their bid for the league and cup double they achieved in 1997 when McNamara had to cut short his second spell at Bentgate because of injury. "That was a big disappointment, although I was happy for the guys to have won it," admitted McNamara, who is eyeing a league success to add to the Worsley Cup win he helped Haslingden achieve in 1994.

"I have played in a cup-winning side over here but not actually in a side that's won the league.

"I certainly haven't come here for a holiday and I am here to win the league.

"I don't know how many times I will be coming over here again so it could be my last chance. I will be doing my best to help the guys win it."

Tomorrow's fixtures: Colne v Burnley, Enfield v Church, Lowerhouse v Nelson, Rambsottom v East Lancs, Rawtenstall v Accrington, Rishton v Haslingden, Todmorden v Bacup.

Source :: The Lancshire Evening Telegraph