Glenn Donald McGrath is an Australian cricketer who played in all formats of the game during his 14-year career. He is regarded as one of the best cricket bowlers of all time. On the 9th of February 1970, he was born in New South Wales, Australia.
Background
He came to Sydney from his hometown of New South Wales to play grade cricket for Sutherland, and he made his New South Wales debut during the 1992–93 season. He was selected for the Australian national team after just eight first-class matches. He has played for many clubs during his career, including NSW, Worcestershire, Middlesex, and the Delhi Daredevils.
Debut
McGrath made his Test debut against New Zealand in Perth’s WACA Ground during the 1993–1994 season.
On his debut, he took three wickets, including the great Kiwi opener Mark Greatbach, who was his first ever Test wicket. Although the match finished in a tie, it was the start of an illustrious career for one of Australia’s greatest ever match-winners.
Rise to Glory
McGrath was the lynchpin of Australia’s all-conquering bowling attack in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He claimed three World Cups in a row, becoming the top wicket-taker in World Cup history in the process. McGrath finished his Test career with 563 wickets, second most by an Australian behind Shane Warne and the most for a fast bowler in the game’s history.
Low Points
McGrath fractured his ankle before the start of the second Test at Edgbaston and was unable to play in the contest, in which England scored 407 runs in one day against a bowling attack without McGrath and won by two runs. He was hurried back for the 3rd Test at Old Trafford, where he took another 5-wicket haul in the second innings of a drawn contest, batting in a last-wicket stand with Brett Lee in the final hour of the Test to deny England victory. After that, he was unable to attend the fourth Test at Trent Bridge, which England won by three wickets.and an injury to his elbow McGrath returned to The Oval Stadium for the final Test, but he and the rest of the Australian side were unable to force a decision, and the match was drawn, handing England the series victory. McGrath’s injury issues are credited with helping England reclaim the Ashes, when the team’s wins occurred while he was unavailable.
Club Career
McGrath was a member of Worcestershire in the English County Championship in 2000. He took 80 wickets at 13.21 in 14 first-class games, including an 8–41 against Northamptonshire, and made his first first-class half-century. In 2004, he also made a few appearances for Middlesex, taking just nine wickets in four first-class games for the county.
McGrath was signed by the Delhi Daredevils for the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League in 2008. The franchise revealed on January 5, 2010, that it had paid $350,000 for the remaining year of McGrath’s deal.
Record in Numbers
On Australia Day in 2008, McGrath was elected a Member of the Order of Australia for “service to cricket as a player.” His wife was also recognised for her contributions to the city by establishing the McGrath Foundation. McGrath was elected NSW Australian of the Year in the same year. In 2011, McGrath was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, and in January 2013, he was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.
McGrath has seven of the highest tenth-wicket partnerships, including two of 100 runs or more. He also holds the records for the fewest runs conceded in a test match, the highest 5-wicket haul, and the best 10-wicket haul in a test match. In test cricket, McGrath holds the record for dismissing the most batsmen for ducks (104). Most wickets, most wickets in a single match, best bowling figures, bowling average, and most maiden overs are among his bowling records in the ICC Cricket World Cup.
Retirement
McGrath announced his retirement from testing on December 23, 2006. His last test was against England in the Fifth Ashes Test in Sydney in January 2007, during which he took a wicket with his last ball. Following the popular 2007 Cricket World Cup, in which he became the top wicket taker in World Cup history, he retired from all aspects of international cricket. After retiring from international cricket, he played for Delhi in the IPL, though only on an intermittent basis.