Melbourne, Dec 29 (IANS) Former Australian Test fast bowler Craig McDermott has done a great job with the pace battery since taking over in May as the bowling coach.

The results were evident in the first Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) as Australian pacers picked up 19 of the 20 Indian wickets that fell during the four days.

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram, a legendary swing bowler, hailed McDermott’s role in the team.

“Yes it is. If Craig is telling them something, he can make a point. If there is a guy who only played first-class cricket and a couple of games here or there - he can’t tell them. He can have his theories but people like Craig have been there and done it at the top level consistently,” Akram was quoted as saying in The Age.

“He was one of the greats. Cricket is a very simple sport. Craig knows what he is saying,” he said.

The 46-year-old McDermott’s mantra for the Australian pacers has been short and simple — consistently pitch five metres from the stumps, a good metre closer than what they had become accustomed to. McDermott, who has 291 wickets from 71 Tests, wants his fast bowlers to give the ball a chance to swing and tickle an outside edge.

It was crucial in transforming the attack that had been relying predominantly on a “bang it in” approach under former bowling coach Troy Cooley.