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Australia`s McGrath out of Zimbabwe Test
Perth, Oct 05: Australian spearhead Glenn McGrath has been ruled out of next week`s first cricket Test against Zimbabwe at the Waca ground here, officials said today.
Perth, Oct 05: Australian spearhead Glenn McGrath has been ruled out of next week's first cricket Test against Zimbabwe at the Waca ground here, officials said today.
The decision came as the superstar fast bowler continued to be plagued by an injured left ankle.
A team spokesman said McGrath, who had been attending an Australian pre-Test camp here, would fly home to Sydney immediately. Mcgrath, 33, bowled in the nets yesterday, but pulled up sore and said then he was not happy with his progress.
Mcgrath had surgery on the ankle after the winter series against Bangladesh and had earlier appeared to be making good progress.
But, after bowling on the hard practice wickets, he said the ankle was tender. He said he would not play unless he was close to 100 per cent fit. Mcgrath also indicated he was prepared to sacrifice the first half of the domestic summer to ensure his fitness for a gruelling schedule over the next 18 months.
"For a fast bowler, when you've got ankle problems with your front foot, it can be a major problem," Mcgrath said.
His absence means Australia will go into next Thursday's Test without him and the suspended Shane Warne, who have 921 scalps between them. The last time the pair were absent from an Australian Test line-up was in last summer's fifth Test against England, when Australia lost by 225 runs.
Bureau Report
A team spokesman said McGrath, who had been attending an Australian pre-Test camp here, would fly home to Sydney immediately. Mcgrath, 33, bowled in the nets yesterday, but pulled up sore and said then he was not happy with his progress.
Mcgrath had surgery on the ankle after the winter series against Bangladesh and had earlier appeared to be making good progress.
But, after bowling on the hard practice wickets, he said the ankle was tender. He said he would not play unless he was close to 100 per cent fit. Mcgrath also indicated he was prepared to sacrifice the first half of the domestic summer to ensure his fitness for a gruelling schedule over the next 18 months.
"For a fast bowler, when you've got ankle problems with your front foot, it can be a major problem," Mcgrath said.
His absence means Australia will go into next Thursday's Test without him and the suspended Shane Warne, who have 921 scalps between them. The last time the pair were absent from an Australian Test line-up was in last summer's fifth Test against England, when Australia lost by 225 runs.
Bureau Report