McGrath bows to Lillee but targets Walsh

Australian pace bowler Glenn McGrath has said he will not consider himself a better bowler than compatriot Dennis Lillee even if he overhauls his career wicket tally.

However, McGrath added he could threaten Courtney Walsh's world test record of 519 wickets if he remains fit.

McGrath, who reached the 350 mark after taking seven for 76 in the fourth test against England at Headingley on Saturday, said Lillee, who claimed 355 victims, spent several years playing World Series Cricket and those performances were not included in his career statistics.

"I still don't put myself up with him," he said. "Dennis was always a hero of mine when I was young."

But he added it would be "a huge honour" to match Lillee, before adding: "I basically try for five wickets a test. It would be amazing to get to 500 wickets.

"Courtney Walsh has set the standard. His 519 would be a goal if I could keep fit for another three or four years.

"I've taken 10 tests to get from 300 to 350."

Lillee is Australia's most successful quick bowler, his 355 wickets coming in 70 tests, while leg-spinner Shane Warne is the country's top wicket-taker with 395.

Lillee took his wickets at 23.92 apiece while McGrath's have cost him 21.28.

The 31-year-old McGrath, from New South Wales, who is playing in his 74th test, added: "I'm reasonably happy with the way I bowled. I thought there was enough variation in the pitch not to need too much variation.

"I just tried to hit the deck and bowl line and length all day."

McGrath, asked how he had developed his nagging accuracy during his career, said: "I don't swing the ball and I'm not that quick so I have to do something. It's fairly natural."

Mail Cricket Editor