McDonald enjoying life at Grace Road

Date: Friday 28 May 2010

Just as Australian international Andrew McDonald has settled into life at Grace Road, the all-rounder is being whisked away to join up with the Australia A party for a series against Sri Lanka A next month.

That news is great for McDonald’s international career and everyone at the Club is delighted for him.

However, the call-up means that the popular Aussie will now potentially miss ten games of the Friends Provident t20 campaign, which is a huge blow to Senior Coach Tim Boon and his new teammates.

McDonald is the sort of player you can base a one-day side around. A powerful striker of the ball who also offers controlled medium pace and a safe pair of hands, the Australian is a modern-day three dimensional cricketer.

And, it’s safe to say that he’s just started to get into his stride here.

The Victorian has been in good form with the ball in the opening weeks of his county career and has just found his feet with the bat following a hard-hit 46 against Durham and a century against Glamorgan in midweek.

McDonald, who had only played one first-class game in England before the move to Grace Road, admitted it has taken him a while to get used to conditions. However, he has thoroughly enjoyed the experience to date.

“It’s been good so far,” he said. “I’ve settled in nicely. It’s taken me a little while to get going in terms of the cricket but the guys have been great. It’s a fantastic young squad and I’ve been made to feel very welcome.”

It was certainly a whirlwind start to McDonald’s Grace Road career.

After travelling up from Heathrow to watch half of the Notts CB40 victory, he was soon travelling back down south and pressed into action on the Tuesday as captain in the Championship at Sussex following illness to Matthew Hoggard.

Still, he took it in his stride and took three wickets and scored 47 in the second innings of the game. A five-for followed against Worcestershire and he is now starting to dominate with the bat.

The county experience has been new to McDonald, for although he was on the Ashes tour last summer, he only played one first-class game at Northampton.

Despite excelling in that game, he did not get another opportunity. Now, just as he has settled in nicely, he is jetting off again. McDonald is philosophical about the life of being an international cricketer though, so it won’t faze him.

He said: “I only played one tour game last year at Northampton. I previously played a bit of league cricket at Lowerhouse in Burnley in the Lancashire Leagues but it’s a lot different. So I only played the one first-class game before I came here.

“It’s taken a little while to get going with the bat but that’s part of the experience. Cricket’s a funny game.

“It was nice to get a few runs and start contributing this week, although it was all to no avail in the Championship game after the second innings capitulation against Glamorgan.

“However, it’s a good young squad here and it’s going to take some time. We’ll win our fair share of games this year; we’re getting into positions to win games, which is a real positive despite the recent results.

“As for the call-up, I’m centrally contracted so it’s not really a surprise that I’m in an Australia A group. Being contracted, you’re hoping to be around the mark and it’s an opportunity to press for higher honours, which is what everyone wants to do.

“I want to get in some good form out there and bring that back over here and have a strong second half to the season with Leicestershire.”

Although McDonald will have to prepare to go home shortly, there is plenty of action before he goes to Queensland for the series.

That starts against Middlesex tomorrow in the Championship, and then a reunion with his good mate Brad Hodge in the Friends Provident t20 tournament.

McDonald and Hodge and teammates at Victoria and he is looking forward to linking up with his old pal again.

The all-rounder has seen Hodge play at Grace Road in the past and he’s now relishing the prospect of locking horns in the middle.

“It’s nearly the start of twenty20, which I’m really looking forward to,” he said.

“We have Brad Hodge coming in and he’s one of the most experienced in the world. If we can get off to a good start, hopefully I can come back and make a difference.

“Brad scored 700+ runs last season and scored five centuries so he knows what he’s doing,” he smiled.

“He’s probably getting better with age and by retiring from first-class cricket, as well as spending more time with his family, it’s allowed him to focus on the one-day stuff. It’s great to have him on board.

“Brad had a very slow start here too, he informs me. He didn’t get a run up until the twenty20 - so maybe I can follow a similar trend!”

There is certainly a funny little anecdote about McDonald’s watching brief of his pal on the ground.

“I was at a game against Warwickshire when Ian Bell got Brad out with a slower ball yorker. He wasn’t best pleased because he said he lost it in the windows!” said McDonald.

“Then he came out in the second innings and got a big hundred and never looked back. It’s a funny game!”

It sure is. But when you go about it with a smile and a great attitude like McDonald does, then you know you’re onto a winner.

He has a big summer ahead all-round and Leicestershire and Australia A will be happy to have his services.