Mumbai, June 1: Australian fast bowling legend Glenn McGrath believes India's flamboyant batsman and Test skipper Virat Kohli is the right person to lead the team and his aggressive approach both on and off the field is a positive sign as long as he is scoring runs.
"I think it is a positive. Because you want a leader who is strong, who wouldn't take a backward step, who would lead by example. But you don't want to go too far or go overboard crossing the line," McGrath, who is on a three-city tour as Hardy's brand ambassador for Sula Selections, told IANS in an exclusive interview here on Monday.
'Skill level plays a big part'
With all new range of cricketing shots coming up these days, specially in the shorter formats of the game, and bowlers getting a hammering from batsmen, the legendary fast bowler believes improvement in skill level, having variety in bowling, specially bowling yorkers, and getting the basics right can help them check run flow in the slog overs.
"Skill level plays a big part. Getting the basics right, having control and variety. I think in T20 boys can come in and bowl six totally different balls. Don't need to land them very well. But you can get away with it. But if you have control, you can be very successful."
"We have seen examples like Mitchell Starc recently in World Cup and also Lasith Malinga bowling yorkers which these two bowlers deliver very well and no one else can. I think other bowlers don't attempt bowling yorkers as they are not good enough to bowl perfect yorkers and are taken for runs," McGrath said.
Speaking about his on-field rivalry with India's batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, he said, "It was always a good challenge. I loved bowling to Sachin. You can know how good you are after bowling to these class players. I got him out a couple of times and made it hard for him, other times he scored big hundreds."
'Australia will do well in Ashes'
With the Ashes series coming up between England and Australia at the end of the year, McGrath believes Australia have a good chance of winning it.
"Australians are playing some pretty good cricket. I am predicting Australia will do very well and win the series."
On the prolonged controversy in English cricket surrounding sacked batsman Kevin Pietersen, he said, "It's a dilemma. KP is a class player. There has been lot of friction between him and the team and the England board."
"A player of his quality would make it tougher for Australia. If he is not playing, it makes it easier for Australia and if he is playing, he will make it tougher for Australia."
IANS