Glenn McGrath reveals that he had received death threats for Sachin Tendulkar’s shoulder before wicket dismissal

The rivalry between Sachin Tendulkar and Glenn McGrath is one for the ages. Both the players were on their peak of abilities throughout their careers and the fans got to see one of the best battles between a champion bowler and a master batsman in both Tests and ODIs. But as they say, the real exam of any cricketer comes in a five-day format only.

The great bowler, who once held the record for most wickets in Tests by a fast bowler (563), once had the upper hand against the little master during the 1999-2000 India tour to Australia. Sachin Tendulkar was captaining the side and the Indian team was struggling badly, to put it nicely. Aussie bowlers had reduced opposition batting to a farce with only VVS Laxman and Tendulkar to some extent putting up a fight.

However, things came to head in the Adelaide Test, where India was chasing a massive target of 396 runs. Sachin had scored a magnificent 61 in the first innings of the Test as India made 285 in reply to Australia’s 441. However, when the team needed him the most in the second innings, an umpiring error led to Sachin being given ‘shoulder before wicket’ after he ducked into a short ball and was hit in his armpit. Glenn McGrath recalled this incident and said that he received death threats for this dismissal.

“I got a few death threats. I had security. My family had security” – Glenn McGrath

“Yeah, it’s a shame that they didn’t have the DRS back then. So, what had happened there was that Sachin had just come in. I don’t think he had scored at that stage. He was still on zero. I tried to bowl a bouncer and unsettle him. And it didn’t get up. It kept low. And Sachin is not the tallest player at the best of times. And he ducked and the ball hit him on the shoulder. And from where I was looking, I thought it’s hitting the stumps. I could see the bails over his head. So, I appealed and the umpire gave it out. I still think it’s out,” McGrath told Times of India.

India could only manage a paltry 100 runs after as the middle order including Sachin, who was dismissed for a duck, crumbled under pressure and India lost the match by 285 runs. “Sachin still thinks the ball was clearing the stumps by a ball and a half. I got a few death threats. I had security. My family had security in Sydney because Cricket Australia received death threats for me because I got Sachin out. It was an unusual freak dismissal,” he added.