McGrath hits out at Proteas' pressure points by AFP

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Event:

ICC World Cup 2006/07

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DateLine: 14th March 2007

 

Australian paceman Glenn McGrath claimed on Wednesday that World Cup Group A rivals South Africa can't handle pressure.

 

The two sides meet here on March 24 in what will be a highly-charged game with the winner taking crucial extra points with them into the second round Super Eights.

 

"I have always felt they're a team that don't handle pressure as well as the Australian team. The fact that they are ranked no.1 now means a lot more pressure to hold that position and we'll see what happens," said 37-year-old McGrath.

 

"I wouldn't say they are chokers but the World Cup is the big scene and we are ready for them."

 

South Africa deposed two-time defending World Cup champions Australia as the world's top-ranked team after the Aussies lost successive series to England and New Zealand earlier this year.

 

Despite their all-round depth and talent, South Africa have suffered a tempestuous relationship with the World Cup since their post-apartheid return to international cricket in 1992.

 

They suffered a dramatic collapse in 1999 and then crashed out in the first round on home soil in 2003 when they misunderstood the rain rules in a match with Sri Lanka.

 

Meanwhile, McGrath said he wants to finish his career in record-breaking fashion by overtaking Pakistan's Wasim Akram as the World Cup's most successful bowler.

 

McGrath retired from Test cricket with 563 wickets to his name after helping Australia to a 5-0 Ashes whitewash of England earlier this year.

 

Now he needs another ten victims to equal Wasim's all-time World Cup tally of 55 wickets.

 

"I noticed I'm number two in World Cup wickets. Wasim, who I think was one of the best bowlers of all time, is on top with 55 so it would be nice to get a couple in front by the end of the tournament," McGrath said.

 

Wasim, arguably the best left-arm seamer the world has seen, played five World Cups between 1987 to 2003 and helped Pakistan to the title in 1992.

 

Australia open their World Cup defence with a Group A match against Scotland at Warner Park here on Wednesday. The Netherlands is the other side in the group.

 

The top two teams qualify for the next round Super Eights.

 

McGrath said he was feeling fine ahead of the opening match.

 

"My body is feeling really good, the mind's hanging in there and will hopefully follow suit. I want to get through this tournament. Then, come May 1, I will think about retirement."

 

Australia go into the group matches after winning both their warm-ups, including a clinical five-wicket win over arch-foes England.

 

"The way we played against England in St Vincent was back to business as usual and hopefully we continue from there," said McGrath.

 

"The two warm-up games show the preparation has been perfect and we have adjusted to the wickets."

(Article: Copyright © 2007 AFP)