You’d struggle to find a cricketer in the history of the game with a bigger gap between their batting and bowling averages – of the positive kind – than Australia’s Tahlia McGrath. And she was on fire against Pakistan in Birmingham
You’d struggle to find a cricketer in the history of the game with a bigger gap between their batting and bowling averages – of the positive kind – than Australia’s rising star Tahlia McGrath ahead of a blockbuster Commonwealth Games semi-final against either New Zealand or England on Saturday.
McGrath knows her Bradman-esque numbers are not sustainable, but she’s certainly enjoying the ride, having asserted herself as Australia’s most consistent batter at the top of the order since she debuted against India in October. Perhaps just as impressive is that McGrath’s career strike rate is 156.22. She says a desire to play all three formats has contributed to her scoring faster.“I started my international career and was probably pigeonholed as a 50-over player purely because my strike rate wasn’t near where it needed to be,” McGrath said. “That was a massive focus for me. To be [striking] at 150, I don’t know how long I’ll keep it there, but I’ll try my best.
McGrath and Mooney used their crease cleverly and showed brute force square of the wicket as Pakistan’s bowlers struggled to stem the flow of runs on a quick outfield. Australia scored 102 runs from their final 10 overs.