Glenn McGrath, the most successful fast bowler in Test cricket who tormentedbatsmen with his amazing line and length, announced his retirement from thelonger version of the game but would continue to play in one-dayers till theWorld Cup next year.
The 36-year-old paceman's announcement that he would not play any more Testsafter the current Ashes series brings the curtains down on the career of one ofthe game's all-time great bowlers, only two days after another bowling legendShane Warne said he would not play any international cricket after the Ashesseries in which two more Tests are to be played.
Out of his 555 Test wickets in 122 matches, McGrath accounted for 51 Indianbatsmen in 11 Tests, getting the scalp of star batsman Sachin Tendulkar sixtimes in their much-hyped duels. In one-dayers against India, he took 34 wicketsin 25 matches.
Advertisement
McGrath, who had only yesterday dismissed reports of an impending retirement,made known his decision after a training session in Melbourne ahead of thefourth Ashes Test starting on December 26.
"It's probably a perfect or fitting ending. It's only been the last fewgames that I've really thought about it.
"To me it feels like the right time to go and I've trusted my instinctin the past and I feel it's time to trust it again," McGrath said.
McGrath, who became the third Aussie after Damien Martyn and Warne toannounce his retirement during the Ashes, also said he looked forward to playingthe remainder of the series now that the announcement was off his chest.
Advertisement
"Hopefully we can get out there and play as well as we have for thewhole summer and really nail these last two Tests."
The bowler did not think that his departure would leave a vaccum in theAustralian side, saying there was plenty of talent waiting to make the grade.
However, he did concede that the gap left by Warne would be difficult tofill.
"To me he's one of the best cricketers there's been."
McGrath is likely to spend more time with his wife Jane, who has beendiagnosed with breast cancer. He had spent most of 2006 out of internationalcricket to be with his wife.
However, McGrath said his wife's illness had played no part in his decision.
"In respect to Jane, her health has nothing to do the decision I've madehere today or over the last few weeks."
Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said McGrath had achievedthe rare distinction of being a consistent match-winner in Test and ODIs for 13years.
"They say bowlers win matches, they must have been thinking of playerslike Glenn McGrath when they said that," Sutherland said.
"His remorseless accuracy and forensic probing of the slightest weaknessin a batsman's technique is legendary."
PTI
