McGrath sets sights on
100 Tests, 500 wkts
Australian pace spearhead Glenn McGrath has signed on for the long haul by declaring he wants to reach the milestone of 500 Test wickets.
The 30-year-old fast bowler, who destroyed the West Indies in the first Brisbane Test, should attain the 300-mark in Friday's second Test against the tourists in Perth.
But McGrath said that was only a stepping stone to his long-term career goals. He wants to play at least 100 Tests -- he has just played his 63rd -- which would also keep him in the running for the 2003 World Cup along with captain Steve Waugh, who has signalled his desire to play for another three years.
McGrath's lengthy commitment is good news for the Australian team which he has helped to make the best in the world.
"I'm really enjoying it at the moment and the body feels great and I'm bowling well," McGrath said Tuesday.
"My ultimate goal is to play 100 Tests and I'd like to average about five wickets a Test at the end of my career, so that's the aim.
"I'm 202 wickets away from 500 so if I can stay fit and on the path and play for another three or four years then it's a realistic goal."
McGrath showed he was at the peak of his powers in Brisbane last weekend when he returned match figures of 10-27 in the crushing innings and 126-run Test thrashing of the Windies.
That moved his wicket haul to 298, leaving him behind only Dennis Lillee (355) and Shane Warne (366) on Australia's list of all-time wicket-takers.
McGrath is 16th on the all-time Test wicket-takers list, still a long way behind the ageless Courtney Walsh, (484) who is leading the West Indies' attack in Australia.
Walsh will almost certainly wait until he passes the 500-barrier before he retires but McGrath could be locked in a race with prolific Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan (291 from 57 Tests) to be the next bowler to reach the milestone.
That's if injury niggles continue to beset Warne and if fourth-placed Pakistani Wasim Akram (408) confirms speculation he is considering retirement as early as next year.
McGrath has already made giant strides on the list by rattling up 134 wickets from his last 26 Tests.
He has not missed a Test since a torn stomach muscle kept him out of six matches in 1997-98.
"I don't play the game (for records) but it's good to do those things," McGrath said.
"You always look at other guys and see how they've gone, especially with guys you've grown up watching.
"Passing Craig McDermott (291 wickets) was good in that way because I grew up watching him and respected him.
"Hopefully one day people will think of you in the same light they thought of the other guys."
Both squads arrived in Perth on Tuesday with training sessions set down for Wednesday.
Mail Cricket Editor
