Watch: Australian Test great Glenn McGrath left his teammates in laughter after smashing the only six of his international career, on his way to his career-best Test score in 2004.
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As far as genuine No.11s go, Glenn McGrath was right up there. While he was unarguably one of the greatest seamers in the game’s history, ‘Pigeon’ didn’t supply much to Australia’s batting might in the 1990s and 2000s. With a Test batting average of 7.36 and 35 ducks to his name, McGrath would invariably be the last man on Australia’s batting list, occupying the No.11 slot in 128 of his 138 Test innings.
It was no surprise then, that McGrath’s every batting contribution was cheered by his teammates, sometimes amusing them to the extent that’d leave them in splits, an example of which occurred in their Brisbane Test against New Zealand in 2004.
Before that game, McGrath had a best score of 39 in 98 Tests. However, in 90-odd minutes of inspired batting, he shared a 114-run tenth wicket stand with Jason Gillespie, taking Australia past 500 in their first innings, and ending with 61.
On the way, he hit five fours, as well as a six, a mighty slog sweep off Daniel Vettori that cleared Gabba’s deep square-leg fence with ease.
His teammates, unaccustomed to seeing McGrath in full flow with the bat, shrieked in excitement from behind a glass window; Adam Gilchrist, Damien Martyn and Ricky Ponting all stood up to applaud, and McGrath himself had a sheepish grin on his face.
It remained the only six in his 376-match international career.
Watch the six and the reaction here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmdO5DuiV3I&ab_channel=robelinda2
