Glenn McGrath's obsessive determination to claim Brian Lara's wicket in the 1999 World Cup semi-final — and his famous statement that he would get Lara for a duck — defined a great rivalry between cricket's supreme fast bowler and its most gifted batsman.
Glenn McGrath had built his career on metronomic accuracy — fourth stump line, shoulder height, relentless pressure. His philosophy was to bowl the perfect ball and wait for the batsman to make an error. Against most batsmen, this worked eventually.
Brian Lara was different. His extraordinary eye and timing meant he could play shots that most batsmen couldn't imagine. Against average bowling, Lara was untouchable. The question was whether McGrath's precision could breach Lara's genius.
The rivalry intensified through the late 1990s as Australia became dominant and West Indies declined. When they met in the 1999 World Cup, both players were in their prime. McGrath's pre-match statements about dismissing Lara for a duck were headline news in both countries.
Lara arrived knowing McGrath would target outside off stump relentlessly and that any drive would need to be perfectly timed. The psychological battle began before a ball was bowled.
Before the 1999 World Cup semi-final, Glenn McGrath publicly stated he would dismiss Brian Lara for a duck. Lara, aware of the provocation, scored 7 before McGrath had him caught. McGrath had dominated Lara across their encounters, getting him out cheaply numerous times through an off-stump corridor strategy. The semi-final victory (Australia won the match) was part of their career-long rivalry which McGrath won statistically — Lara averaged in the mid-20s against him — but which produced consistently compelling cricket. The dynamic was simple: the most disciplined bowler in cricket targeting the most naturally gifted batsman.
McGrath publicly predicts Lara dismissed for a duck before the semi-final
Lara scores 7 before McGrath traps him — not a duck but early, confirming the rivalry's pattern
Australia win the semi-final convincingly and go on to win the World Cup
Post-match: McGrath acknowledges he got Lara 'cheaply' if not for exactly zero
Their rivalry continued until Lara's retirement in 2007 with McGrath holding the statistical advantage
1999-06-17
1999 WC semi-final: McGrath takes Lara early; Australia win
2005-01-01
Lara plays outstanding innings against Australian attack including McGrath
2007-01-01
Both McGrath and Lara retire in same year — an era ends
“I target Lara's off stump every single delivery. He wants to drive, I want him to edge. It's a chess match and I back my discipline to win it.”
“McGrath was the hardest bowler I faced because he never gave you anything. You had to wait and wait for your chance — and he was patient enough to wait longer than I was.”
Australia won the World Cup. McGrath ended as one of the tournament's leading wicket-takers. The semi-final confrontation became one of the tournament's defining moments.
Lara never quite mastered McGrath, though he played some magnificent innings against Australian attacks containing him. The rivalry remained unresolved in the sense that both felt they were the one who should have dominated.
McGrath won the statistical battle convincingly — Lara averaged around 25 against him across all formats compared to his overall average of over 52. Yet Lara's moments of brilliance against McGrath, when he hit him for boundaries with regal disdain, provided cricket's most compelling viewing.
The McGrath-Lara rivalry encapsulated the great cricket duels — the perfectly disciplined craftsman against the flamboyant genius. McGrath represented everything systematic and scientific; Lara represented cricket as art.
McGrath retired in 2007 — on the same day Lara played his last Test. The coincidence felt appropriate. Both men had shaped an era, and their duel remained one of its defining narratives.
Australia vs Pakistan
22 November 1981
Dennis Lillee kicked Javed Miandad on the field, prompting Miandad to raise his bat as if to strike Lillee. Umpire Tony Crafter intervened to separate them.
New Zealand vs West Indies
12 February 1980
Michael Holding kicked the stumps out of the ground in frustration after an LBW appeal was turned down against John Parker.
West Indies vs Australia
28 April 1995
Curtly Ambrose got in Steve Waugh's face after being told to go back to his mark. Richie Richardson had to pull Ambrose away. Ambrose then bowled a devastating spell.