GLENN McGrath jetted out to Australia at the weekend with a rallying call to his Worc-estershire team-mates.

And among those he's backing to help keep the County's glory hope alive during his absence is fellow paceman Alamgir Sheriyar.

McGrath, in Australia to play in a series of indoor internationals against South Africa in Melbourne, said: "Sherry hasn't quite been on fire like he was last year when he took 92 first-class wickets, but that can happen in the second year when you have had such a successful season.

"We still have a bit of cricket left this year and hopefully Sherry can get back to taking wickets like he normally does and finish the season strong. It would be great for him and Worcestershire if he can do that."

McGrath's hopes for Sheriyar are echoed by New Road coach Bill Athey, who said: "Sherry has the ability. On his day he can be a devastating bowler. There are one or two things he needs to work on but if he does that and gets them right then he'll be a real handful.

"He's just a little bit disappointed in his performances and it obviously wears on the mind a little bit.

"What's happened to Sherry after a good season can happen to batsmen as well. There's many a young player who has come in and got a few runs first season and next year they have a very hard time.

"It's just one of those things that a player has got to progress through and learn from."

There's no doubt, though, that Worcestershire will feel that effect of being without someone with such lethal match-winning talents as McGrath who misses two County Championship matches and two Norwich Union National League Division One games during his stint in Australia.

He is due to return on August 21, the day before Worcestershire open their Championship match against old rivals Warwickshire at New Road.

By then he hopes Sheriyar and the County's other bowlers will have successfully plugged the gap created by his absence.

He said: "Young Kabir Ali has come through well. I think he's done a great job in the one-dayers. Richard Illingworth and Matthew Rawnsley have bowled pretty well and Stuart Lampitt always bowls good line and length and always picks up vital wickets. David Leatherdale has come on and also taken vital wickets here and there.

"I think the bowling has been good, but I just feel our batsmen have let us down a little bit. But we have got the talent at Worcester.

"Playing on wickets that are not conducive to good cricket is a little bit of a problem but hopefully the guys can learn from the mistakes they have been making, correct them and finish the season strongly."

McGrath admits he's enjoying every minute of his first taste of county cricket and was delighted with his career-best match haul of 10-69 in the 52-run win over Gloucestershire at New Road last week.

"I enjoyed getting seven wickets in the first innings against Gloucestershire, that's always quite a buzz. But I've found it a little bit tougher than I thought it would be in respect to the wickets we are playing on.

"I guess I should have expected the wickets to be a little bit slower than what I'm used to. It's been hard work but I've enjoyed it. I've felt I could have bowled a little bit better and maybe taken a few more wickets but overall I've really enjoyed it.

"The one-dayers have gone really well. I've been happy with the way I have bowled in those. In the four-day matches the wickets have been tough work especially for someone like myself.

"My goals are down a little bit on what I hoped to be at this stage of the year but to get the wickets I did against Gloucestershire got me past the 50 mark in the Championship. I'm still pretty happy with that.

Athey said: "Glenn hasn't really had the wickets to suit him yet he's done a great job for us. If we can bowl on slightly quicker wickets with decent carry and bounce then he'll be absolutely devastating."

So far this season McGrath has bagged 62 first-class wickets at an average of 13.72 - impressive figures which have been boosted by ten wicket hauls against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge as well as against Gloucestershire.

Monday, August 7, 2000