If the IPL is reflective of the talent available in the world today — several top players from almost all teams are part of this 45-day tournament — then Glenn McGrath is proving all over again that he’s in a league of his own.

In a format that weighs in heavily in favour of broad bats and brute force, there have been a few stand-out performers with the ball in hand.

There was the wrong-footed skidder Sohail Tanvir’s exceptional 6-14 (his spell read a surreal 3-0-3-5 at one point) against the Chennai Super Kings. Warne has been exceptional for Jaipur, but his leg-spinners, googlies and flippers have played a smaller role in the Rajasthan Royals success than his sheer genius as captain. Shaun Pollock has proved thrifty in bits for Mumbai, while MS Gony has provided pleasant surprises for Chennai. None has matched McGrath for consistency though.

Two minds

Through his international career, he had batsmen in two minds. For some, like former England captain Mike Atherton, it was usually four or five. You could wake him up from his sleep 20 years from now and he’d probably put the ball on that spot just short of good length, a few devastating centimeters outside off-stump. Forward or back? Drive or cut?

In his six matches in the IPL so far, McGrath has picked up seven wickets at a strike-rate of 20.5, an average of 21.14 and an economy rate of 6.16. Outstanding as they are, his impact on this IPL goes far beyond the figures. To a format that pushes the limits of madness, he brings a sense of control. To a team that thrives on the flamboyance of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir’s bats, he brings the relentless pursuit for perfection.

Calmer avatar

The big difference between the McGrath from one year ago, when he signed off from the international stage after Australia’s third straight World Cup triumph, is that he seems much calmer now.

The man who was once prone to the odd snarl and the occasional mid-pitch spat has been all smiles since landing in India. After he had decimated Bangalore’s chase with 4-29 at the Kotla last week, McGrath sat grinning as his captain, Virender Sehwag, answered a few questions in Hindi. “I agree,” he slipped in as Sehwag paused for breath.

Today, when asked if he would miss the presence of his Aussie mates Matthew Hayden and Michael Hussey in the game against Chennai, his reply was a quick no. “I won’t have to bowl to them.”

The absence of Chennai’s deadly duo, back Down Under for national duty, will be Dhoni’s biggest headache when McGrath runs in against their shaky top-order on Thursday evening. Three back-to-back losses would have put demons in their heads — not ideal with McGrath asking questions as well.