McGrath to quit after World Cup

Glenn McGrath confirms his impending retirement at a news conference © Getty Images

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Glenn McGrath has become the second great Australian bowler this week to announce his retirement despite claiming he still has a couple of years left as a top-class seamer.

Just days after Shane Warne declared he would finish his career at the end of the current Ashes series, 36-year-old McGrath ended days of speculation by confirming he would retire at the end of the World Cup in West Indies, which finishes on April 28.

It means both of Australia's legendary figures will bow out from Test cricket in the Ashes finale at Sydney on January 2, a match which is bound to have particularly emotional significance for local boy McGrath.

"It's a fitting ending for myself being my home ground and my favourite ground in the world," revealed McGrath during a hastily-arranged press conference at the MCG.

"It's only been in the last few games that I've really thought about it and come up with the decision that I will finally hang the boots up.

"It's a tough decision and an easy decision. It's tough because I still love playing and going out there performing with my team-mates, my body feels great and I couldn't be happier with the way I'm bowling.

"It's also easy because of everything else that goes with it - the training, the travel, the time away from home - and it's getting harder to leave home with Jane and the kids, who are growing up all the time, and it's tough not experiencing the things they go through."

Glenn McGrath has taken 555 wickets in a superb 13-year Test career © Getty Images

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McGrath will leave the game as one of the great seam bowlers of his and any other era, having captured 555 wickets from 122 Tests, but he insisted his decision was not based on the health of his wife Jane, who has been suffering from cancer.

Unlike Warne, whom he has played alongside in 102 Tests - they claimed 963 wickets at an average of 25.53 between them - McGrath also claimed he has not begun to feel the ravages of time and could still play on.

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

"I have no doubts I could continue on, probably for another couple of years. The body is feeling as good as it ever has and I'm recovering well - I've surprised myself just how well I've been pulling up.

"I could continue on and I feel I could offer more to the team, but to me it feels the right time to go. I've trusted my instinct in the past and I've decided to trust it again."

Shane Warne announced his retirement earlier this week

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McGrath discussed the situation with Warne in the aftermath of Australia's win in the previous Test at Perth, which secured the Ashes, and told several other team-mates of his decision over the last few days.

They agreed that Warne would announce it in his home city of Melbourne and McGrath would follow suit in Sydney, but speculation has increased over the last few days and forced him to confirm his decision earlier than expected.

"With the scrutiny and the hearsay over the last few days, I wanted to get it out in the open and over and done with so we could concentrate on the last two Test matches," McGrath added.

"For me to go through the next Test match trying to deny that I'm retiring without lying would be tough because I've always tried to be honest."