Pacer who had lost his wife before the inaugural edition is hoping to make an even bigger impression
EVEN though he has retired from cricket, Glenn McGrath has a lot on his plate. And that has nothing to do with cricket.
The 40-year-old is raising two children and with help from his friends, runs a major charity orgasnisation that was founded by his wife Jane. Jane succumbed to cancer last year.
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Having made his impact in the inaugural IPL last year, McGrath will make an emotional return to cricket for the second edition to be held in South Africa from April 18.
McGrath was an important component of the Delhi Daredevils side and skipper Virender Sehwag will be hoping the Australian continues his miserly bowling this year too.
Last year, McGrath was the most economical Delhi bowler in the tournament going at just 6.61 runs per over and also played 14 games, more than any other from his side.
With his day-to-day activities largely focused on a non-profit organisation, the opportunity to earn for his family is a big motivation for McGrath and his IPL selling price of US$ 350,000 is a huge incentive.
McGrath believes more is to come this time around. "I struggled a bit last year, but that was more about Jane and how the situation was back home," McGrath told Cricinfo.
"That won't be a concern this time. Mum may bring the kids over for the middle period, depending on the schedule. My whole focus will be a lot different when I'm there, which I think will all be positive.
"Last time I think I did reasonably well considering I hadn't played for 12 months. I have no doubts it will be similar this time, but my mindset will be different.
"There is a lot of incentive going over there with the money they're offering. Cricket is not something that I have a great desire to get back and play at the moment. I'm very happy being retired and with everything that I achieved in my life.
"In saying that, as soon as I got on the field in India (in 2008), I couldn't help being competitive. My natural instincts came out and I was away. That won't be an issue.
"Last year I did a heap of fitness work leading into it, and when I bowled in the nets for half a session I felt like I hadn't ever been away from the game. When I played that Twenty20 match earlier on in the year for New South Wales, and I hadn't done any work leading into it, it felt like I had never bowled before in my life.
"So basically if I'm fit my bowling will come back really quickly, and if I'm not fit I'm useless."
McGrath will arrive in Delhi the coming days for the Daredevils' week-long training camp before departing with the squad for South Africa on April 7.
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