Glenn McGrath's Legacy: The Tradition of Celebrating Five Wickets
The Birth of a Unique Bowling Tradition
Glenn McGrath, widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers in cricket history, is celebrated not just for his impressive tally of 563 Test wickets but also for pioneering a distinctive tradition that continues among bowlers today. This tradition began during the 2001 Ashes series at Lord's, where McGrath famously raised the cricket ball to the crowd after claiming five wickets in an innings, a gesture that had never been seen before.
Reflecting on this moment, McGrath shared that his action stemmed from frustration. He noticed that batsmen often celebrated their milestones, such as half-centuries and centuries, by raising their bats to the audience, while bowlers received little recognition for their achievements.
In a past interview with a media channel, McGrath expressed his thoughts:
"When they get 50, they raise the bat. When they get 100, they raise the bat. Us poor bowlers, we don’t get anything. Even if we take 10 wickets in a match, nothing."
To change this narrative, McGrath collaborated with fellow fast bowlers Damien Fleming, Michael Kasprowicz, and Jason Gillespie, forming what they called the "bowling cartel." Their plan was simple: the next bowler to take five wickets would request the ball and raise it to the crowd, mimicking the gesture of a batsman celebrating a milestone.
This initiative quickly took shape. During a match at Lord's in 2001, McGrath achieved his fifth wicket, asked the umpire for the ball, and lifted it towards the spectators. He recalled that the batsmen were initially confused by this unexpected display.
"Shortly after that we played at Lord’s in 2001. I was lucky enough to pick up my fifth wicket, I called for the ball off the umpire, raised the ball to the crowd... the batsmen had no idea what was going on."
This simple yet impactful gesture has since evolved into a cherished tradition among bowlers worldwide. Now, when a bowler takes five wickets in an innings, fans anticipate the iconic ball salute.
McGrath takes pride in this legacy, stating, "It always makes me smile when I see a bowler do it." Thanks to McGrath and his teammates, bowlers now have their own moment to shine and celebrate.