Umesh Yadav Wants To Be India's Glen McGrath!
AHMEDABAD: Inspired by Australian fast bowling legend Glenn McGrath, the newest addition to the Indian pace attack, Umesh Yadav, wants to be a line and length specialist.
"I like Glenn McGrath personally. In my life I would try that I get as close as possible to his bowling," Yadav told reporters on Sunday ahead of India's third ODI against the West Indies at the Sardar Patel Gujarat Stadium in Motera on Monday.
"McGrath is my hero and I am inspired by him and trying to bowl like him," said the Vidarbha bowler, who has struck a good combination with another up and coming bowler Varun Aaron.
Yadav and Aaron were India's unlikely rescuers with the bat in the first ODI at Cuttack and guided the team home with a 12-run stand for the last wicket amidst mounting tension while chasing a modest 211.
Talking about that exciting one-wicket victory, Yadav said there was nothing much going through his head when he and Aaron were at the crease for the last wicket.
"We are tailenders and after the ninth wicket we thought what to do next. I was cool and wanted to play correct shots. Just single and double would be enough. Same was the case with Aaron," he said.
Yadav had been impressive in the preceding Test series against the Caribbean islanders too and has taken that form into the limited over series with five wickets in two matches.
Yadav, who is set to leave for Australia with some senior members of the squad including Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman a few days earlier than the rest of the squad for the eagerly awaited four-Test series, said the extra days would help him get adjusted to the wicket.
"Indian wickets are different from the Australian. If I get some extra days it would be better for me and would get time to practice and get accustomed to the wicket. It is good that I am going early," he said.
The 24-year-old player said was not targetting any particular Australian batsman on the tour.
"The wicket of every player is important as it would benefit my team, be it (Ricky) Ponting or (Michael) Clarke," he remarked.
Yadav confessed that bowling alongside teammate Varun Aaron pushed him to do better.
"Bowling with Varun is good. We have our junior level connections. When he takes a wicket I have to tighten up my bowling at the other end and vice versa," he said.
Yadav also believes that Test cricket is the best format of the game as it examines a player's calibre to the fullest.
"In Test cricket one has to be consistent with the line and length and bowl in particular areas, whereas in ODIs, you have to pick quick wickets and at the same time restrict the opposition from scoring runs," the young pacer said.
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