Glenn McGrath

Glenn McGrath Biography

Glenn Donald McGrath is a retired Australian cricketer who, in his 14-year career, played all formats of the game. He is considered to be one of the greatest bowlers in cricketing history. He was born in New South Wales, Australia on 9th of February 1970.

Background

He moved to Sydney from his birthplace at New South Wales to play grade cricket for Sutherland and made his cricketing debut for New South Wales during the 1992–93 season. After just eight first-class matches, he earned selection to the Australian national side. During his career, he has represented several clubs including NSW, Worcestershire, Middlesex and Delhi Daredevils.

Debut

McGrath's Test debut was against New Zealand at WACA Ground, Perth, in 1993–1994 season.

He picked up three wickets on debut, with the great Kiwi opener Mark Greatbach being his first ever Test wicket. The match ended in a draw, but it was to be the beginning of an illustrious career for one of Australia’s greatest ever match-winners.

Rise to Glory

McGrath was the lynchpin of the Australian bowling attack in the all-conquering team of the late 90s and early noughties. He won three successive World Cups, and in the process became the highest ever wicket taker in World Cup history. McGrath ended up with 563 Test wickets, the second most for an Australian behind Shane Warne, and the most by an fast bowler in the history of the game.

Low Points

McGrath had injured his ankle before the start of the 2nd Test at Edgbaston and was unable to play in the match in which England amassed 407 runs in one day against the McGrath-less bowling attack to win by 2 runs. He was rushed back when not fully fit for the 3rd Test at Old Trafford, where he earned another 5-wicket haul in the 2nd innings of a drawn game, batting in a last-wicket partnership with Brett Lee in the last hour of the Test to deny an English victory. He then missed the 4th Test at Trent Bridge, which England won by 3 wickets, with an elbow injury. McGrath returned for the final Test at The Oval stadium but he, and the rest of the Australian team, were unable to force a result and the match was drawn, giving England the series win. McGrath's injury problems are seen as a key factor in England regaining the Ashes, as their victories came in matches in which he was absent.

Club Career

McGrath played for Worcestershire in the 2000 English County Championship. In 14 first-class games, he took 80 wickets at 13.21, including a return of 8–41 against Northamptonshire, as well as making his first ever first-class half-century. He also played a few games for Middlesex in 2004 where he could manage only nine wickets in four first-class appearances for the county.

In 2008, McGrath was signed by the Delhi Daredevils for the first season of the IPL. On 5 January 2010 the franchise announced that it had bought out the remaining year of McGrath's contract for $350,000.

McGrath's Record in Numbers

In 2008, McGrath was named as a Member of the Order of Australia on Australia Day for "service to cricket as a player". His wife was also awarded for her service to the community through the establishment of the McGrath Foundation. In the same year McGrath was named the NSW Australian of the Year. McGrath was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2011, and the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in January 2013.

McGrath holds seven highest tenth wicket partnerships, and two tenth wicket partnerships of 100 plus. He has also held the record for conceding the least runs in a test best 5-wicket haul and the best 10-wicket haul in a test match. McGrath holds the record for dismissing the most batsmen for ducks in test cricket (104). He holds most bowling records in ICC Cricket World Cup, including most wickets, most wickets in a single tournament, best bowling figures, bowling average and most maiden overs.

Retirement

On 23 December 2006, McGrath announced his retirement from tests. His last test was the Fifth Ashes Test against England in Sydney in January 2007 during which he took a wicket with the last ball of his test career. He retired from all forms of international cricket following the successful 2007 Cricket World Cup where he became the leading wicket taker in the history of the World Cup. He featured for Delhi in the IPL after his international retirement but was only able to make sporadic appearances.