McGrath is like a spider enticing a bee

The Australian fast bowler is playing his hundredth Test and the word that would best describe his sterling career is consistency, writes Ian Chappell.

The question is often asked, "Who is the best Australia fast bowler — Dennis Lillee, Ray Lindwall or Glenn McGrath?"

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I guess I've tipped my hand with the order of preference above, as I consider both Lillee and Lindwall excelled in the same skills as McGrath but they did it at greater speed.

However, it's not really important what order you place those excellent Australian fast bowlers but the fact that McGrath is always considered good enough to be included in such august company.

McGrath is playing his hundredth Test and the word that would best describe his sterling career is consistency.

His career really took off when Craig McDermott flew home from the Caribbean in 1994-95 and McGrath slipped into the spearhead role as though it was a comfortable pair of slippers. He not only relished the role of leading the attack but also announced himself by becoming one of those rare fast bowlers who was prepared to bounce the opposition pace bowlers who, in this case, were the formidable pair of Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose.

This took a fair amount of courage on McGrath's part as he is about as comfortable with a bat in his hands as a blacksmith holding a newborn baby.