New Delhi: He may be pushing 40, but Glenn McGrath still believes that he can make an impact in the IPL. The Delhi Daredevils star sat down with CNN-IBN's Asscociate Cricket Editor Nishant Arora for an exclusive interview to look ahead to the challenge, and a year in which he suffered a terrible personal loss.
Glenn McGrath: I'm looking forward to it. I've been retired now for nearly two years, but I'm still looking forward to get out there in the middle. Once I'm out there, I'm sure it will come back very quickly and be very competitive.
CNN-IBN: Some new people have joined your group (in retirement), the likes of Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist. Have you spoken to them?
Glenn McGrath: All the boys are very happy to be retired. I speak to Matty Hayden quite a bit, Gilly and the boys and Warnie. Everyone's very happy to be retired, but I'm sure they'll come back eager and ready to go for this IPL. It's only two months - two months a year is ideal for us.
CNN-IBN: Have you bowled at all during this time?
Glenn McGrath: I have. I bowled a little bit. I played a couple of matches back home - a testimonial match for Jason Gillespie, just a Twenty20 match, and we had a Bushfire appeal match at the SCG where I played as well. And a few other training sessions.
CNN-IBN: Looking at this Delhi Daredevils side, they look like a very strong unit going into this year's edition.
Glenn McGrath: I think we had quite a well balanced side last year. We probably lacked in just one area, and we fell short, getting beaten in the semi-final.
But this year, I think we have got some very classy openers, some big hitters, obviously Viru and young David Warner who is coming on board, who's taken the world by storm in Twenty20.
We have a few more powerful openers through the middle order, and hopefully the bowlers will do the job too. So I think we have a very well balanced side, and expecting a lot of it.
CNN-IBN: Now the tournament has been shifted to South Africa. For someone who has played a lot of cricket there, you'll have to play a major role in telling the youngsters about how to bowl in those conditions. You played that role last year to perfection, leading a young bowling attack. Do you think this time you have more in your plate, considering tournament is now shifted overseas?
Glenn McGrath: The young Indian bowlers are used to their own conditions. I guess South Africa is more similar to what we have in Australia. So hopefully I can impart that experience onto the young guys, help them make that transition a lot smoother and a lot quicker than maybe it would have happened in the past.
Hopefully if I bowl well enough, I can lead by example. But I'm looking forward to South Africa, but it is a shame its not here in India. I quite enjoy playing here.
CNN-IBN: This has been a difficult year for you. How difficult was it for you to come and participate this season?
Glenn McGrath: It was a very tough decision. For a while I was in the balance over whether I would come or whether I wouldn't come. I was very close to not coming. To spend eight weeks away from my family, from my two children, is very tough.
Last year when I went home at the end of the tournament, my wife was rushed to the hospital and the things that happened in the next few weeks... it has been quite a tough eight or nine months for us.
But the kids are going very well, my mum's looking after them. I'm heading back to where my mother lives in Dubbo to spend some time with my cousins over there, at least for holidays for about three weeks. And then we'll get into playing while they'll be back at school. So, there will be enough to keep them busy and to keep me busy, and before we know it, I'll be back home.
CNN-IBN: How did the kids take your decision of going to play in the IPL? They must have supported it.
Glenn McGrath: I wouldn't call 'supported it'. If I happen to go away for a night or an afternoon, or if I have a dinner, they don't want me to go. They didn't want me to come over here. Especially eight weeks is a long time. But as soon as I'm five minutes outside the door, they're back to doing whatever they've got. They'll hardly realise I'm gone. But I'll speak to them everyday and we'll cross off the days and, like I said, in eight weeks' time I will be home.
CNN-IBN: You have been considered a tough cricketer who has gone through a lot of ups and downs in cricket. How tough was this year for you, and how did you cope with it.
Glenn McGrath: It's been easily the toughest year I've been through. But I think you need good friends, good family around you. I've definitely got that. I've got two children to focus on too.
They're amazing. They've handled it really well and made it a lot easier for me. I'm very lucky that I've got the friends and family around me that I have.
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