Australia 'weaker' without bowling greats: Inzamam

LONDON, Dec 30, 2006 (AFP) - Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has insisted Australia will be a “lot weaker” after the Test retirements of star bowlers Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath.

Leg-spinner Warne, Test cricket's most successful bowler with 706 wickets, and McGrath, third in the all-time standings with 557 and the leading quick, will both call time on their careers in the five-day format after the fifth and final Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground starting next week.

The duo, who have each dismissed Inzamam five times apiece in Tests, will be looking to bow out by helping Australia complete the first 5-0 rout in an Ashes series for 85 years.

“Both are great players, great bowlers,” Inzamam told Bigstarcricket.com.

“Without them Australia is definitely going to be a lot weaker and teams will now be much more confident about beating them. Both players always seem to perform when Australia win and it's no coincidence.

“Everybody in cricket will miss them, but more importantly I think Australia will miss them a great deal because they are big performers and take most of the team's wickets as we can see from the fact they have over 1,200 Test wickets between them.