da heads bet： The rewards are rolling in for Glenn McGrath, following his Test-best 61against New Zealand in the first Test at Brisbane
da dobrowin： Wisden Cricinfo staff24-Nov-2004
McGrath has plenty of reasons to be happy after hitting 61 in the first Test against New Zealand© Getty Images
The rewards are rolling in for Glenn McGrath, following his Test-best 61against New Zealand in the first Test at Brisbane. He has netted theMcGrath Breast Cancer Foundation AUS$10,000 (£4,200) from one sponsor, andthe same amount for himself from Sommers, his bat manufacturers.Prior to the innings, McGrath had been in danger of finishing his careerwith more wickets than runs – his tallies in the run-up to the BrisbaneTest had been 454 and 477 respectively. But he revealed in Sydney’s newspaper that New Loan, one of his sponsors, hadpromised to give $10,000 to the McGrath Breast Cancer Foundation if hereached a Test half-century. McGrath’s English-born wife Jane underwenttreatment for breast cancer in 2003.Mark Waugh had famously bet Shane Warne that McGrath would never make afirst-class fifty, which he achieved in July 2000 when he made 55 forWorcestershire against Nottinghamshire at New Road in July 2000, as he puton 103 for the last wicket with Kabir Ali.But further incentive was needed for him to repeat the feat in Tests.McGrath therefore negotiated a clause in his batting contract that ensuredhe’d win a similar bonus himself for reaching a Test half-century.John Rennie, the managing director of Sydney-based Sommers, was delightedwith the exposure his client won for him, but indicated that he thoughtthat, like many, the chances of McGrath ever making a fifty were slim. Hischeque will be presented before the start of the second Test, starting atAdelaide this Friday.
