McGrath backs next generation

Glenn McGrath is thinking about the next stage in his life

Glenn McGrath believes the talent is in place to replace him as the leader of Australia’s attack after starting the countdown to retirement.

The 36-year-old seamer announced he will retire from Test cricket at the end of the current Ashes series, playing his last match at his beloved SCG, and from all cricket at the end of next year’s World Cup.

His decision follows the announcement from Shane Warne that he is also finishing at the end of the Ashes series and leaves Australia with two massive voids to fill in the near future.

While Warne is regarded as irreplaceable, McGrath believes Australia will have no problems in filling his shoes - despite a record of 555 wickets in 122 Tests placing him third in the world all-time list.

McGrath said: “You try to leave the game in a better state, or as good a stage as possible and if you look at the young guys coming through we’ve got Shaun Tait and Mitchell Johnson just to name a couple in the wings.

"I feel those guys will get the opportunity and really perform. There are plenty of fast bowlers around Australia and hopefully, with a bit of experience and a bit of confidence, off they go.

“You only have to see what Stuart Clark has done since he’s come in so I’m comfortable leaving now knowing there are plenty of guys that can hopefully come in and take over my role.”

McGrath’s announcement was expected, but he was forced to bring it forward after days of fevered speculation about his future.
His original plan was to hold a press conference before his home town Test in Sydney.

He intends to spend more time with his children, James and Holly, and may also consider returning to the game in the future to supplement Australia’s seam bowling programme which is headed by former England bowling coach Troy Cooley.

For the time being, though, he intends to savour the countdown to the next stage of his life and refuses to rush into any decisions about his future.

Glenn McGrath's days in international cricket are numbered © Getty Images

Buy this photo

McGrath explained: “I haven’t set in concrete what I want to do. I’ve still got four months of cricket left if all goes well so I’ve got a little bit of time there to get things moving along.

“The last thing I want to do is to rush into something else. The biggest challenge is to find something that I have the same passion for as I do for cricket and if I find that I’ll be very lucky.

“It’s a possibility I may stay in cricket. I feel I do have a lot to offer, probably more on the mental side than the technical side.”

McGrath and Warne played together in 102 Tests, in which they claimed 963 wickets at an average of 25.53.

McGrath claims he has not begun to feel the ravages of time and could have still played on.

“I guess you base your decision on gut feeling and I feel now is the right time to leave,” he added. “Over the last few games I’ve started to feel that way."