• The Ashes

McGrath wants Australia to target Strauss

ESPN staff
November 17, 2010
Glenn McGrath was a tormentor of England batsmen in Ashes clashes © Getty Images
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Australian legend Glenn McGrath has called on the country's seamers to pay special attention to England captain Andrew Strauss.

The first Ashes Test begins in Brisbane next week and surprisingly the Australians are on the back foot after a string of disappointing results. McGrath has made his familiar claim that Australia will win the series 5-0, but feels it is imperative the bowlers put Strauss under intense pressure.

"I grew up watching the great West Indies sides of the mid-1980s," McGrath told the Daily Mail. "They targeted the opposition captain and that had an effect on the rest of the team. Andrew Strauss is a key for the English.

"You can think about the way you've gone in certain conditions and it can always play on your mind. The opening batsmen are key for England and Australia will target them."

England's excellent bowling attack has propped up the batting in the past couple of years and McGrath feels how they adapt to conditions will have a huge bearing on the outcome of the series.

"I always felt that when the English guys come to Australia, the Kookaburra ball hasn't done a lot for them and they haven't had much else to fall back on," McGrath, who has 157 Ashes victims to his name, said. "In England, Jimmy Anderson is a real good bowler, but he didn't bowl well last time here and the test of any bowler is how they bowl in all conditions."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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