Biography of Glenn McGrath:- Glenn McGrath is a mark of Australia’s greatness and dominance in the game for the last 2 decades; he is a living legend of cricket.
The best talent last discovered in the fast bowling department emerged from New South Wales and dominated the 21st-century cricket era with the pace and brains. Glenn McGrath was born on 9th February 1970 in New South Wales, Australia.
He is currently coaching New South Wales and commenting for Channel Nine. Apart from the pace, line and length were the primary weapons that Glenn McGrath aimed most. After Wasim and Waqar, McGrath was the one to take most wickets in test cricket, among fast bowlers.
Glenn McGrath is at number one in test wickets and fourth overall. His accuracy combined with the pace and seam made him an unstoppable force in addition to the 196 cm posture of delivering the ball right from the top.
Biography of Glenn McGrath
- Born:- 9 February 1970 (age 47), Dubbo, Australia
- Height:- 1.96 m
- Test Debut:- 12 November 1993 v New Zealand
- ODI Debut:- 9 December 1993 v South Africa
- Last ODI:- 28 April 2007 v Sri Lanka
- Spouse:- Sara Leonardi (m. 2010), Jane McGrath (m. 1999–2008)
Glenn McGrath was part of the golden era of Australian cricket team, he is still the highest wicket-taker in World Cups overall. McGrath was part of the World Cup-winning side in the1999-2007 era.
Glenn concluded his stupendous career after being named Man of the Tournament in World Cup 2007. A year later, Indian Premier League hired Glenn McGrath as the spearhead of Delhi Daredevil bowling attack. In the first season of IPL, Glenn McGrath was the most economical bowler of the tournament.
Glenn McGrath Stats and Records
McGrath started a marathon career with a test match against New Zealand in 1993. Soon after that, Glenn McGrath made his ODI debut against South Africa in December 1993.
The 14-year bowling career was reminiscent with the consistency and match-winning spells. After retirement, Glenn McGrath headed MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai.
In 124 test games, McGrath took 563 wickets, all-time high by any International fast bowler in test format. His bowling average remained 21.64 with 29 five-wicket hauls and the best bowling figures of 8/24.
In 250 One Day International games, Glenn McGrath grabbed 381 wickets at a bowling average of 22 including seven 5-wicket hauls in limited over’s format.
His best bowling figures were 7/15 against Namibia. Overall in 189 test games, McGrath managed to bowl out 835 batsmen at an excellent bowling average of 20.85, the economy of 2.50. In only 2 T20i matches, Glenn McGrath took 5 wickets with the best bowling figures of 3/31.
Records
Glenn McGrath has the record for dismissing more batsmen on ducks than any bowler in Test cricket i.e. 104 times. Glenn McGrath contested in 4 World Cups playing for Australia and won three out of four being present in the squad.
He remained a prominent member of every World Cup-winning team, a gloomy diamond of the golden era of Australian cricket. In three out of four World Cups, Australia was the winners, and in the fourth one, they were finalists in 1996 World Cup.
Glenn McGrath has the record of the most economical 10-wicket haul in Test cricket. As a batsman, he has more ducks than any Australian batsman summing up to 35 in total.
Domestic Career
Glenn McGrath played school and college cricket in New South Wales, later on, he moved to Sydney to polish the rare skills and potential he possessed, finally making his debut for his home state club New South Wales in 1992-93 season.
Only after eight matches for NSW, Australian selectors called him to the national training camp. Glenn McGrath played his first Test against New Zealandin November 1993. Doug Walters was the primary source to recognize and utilize a rare talent that became the highest wicket taker in test format and most successful Australian fast bowler.
Glenn McGrath was contracted by English County Club Worcestershire for the summer season in 2000. The County Championship experience was great and helpful for McGrath as he took 80 wickets in 14 matches.
The all-time best bowling figures in FC cricket came in the same tournament against North amptonshire. In 2004 season, Glenn McGrath signed a year’s contract with Middlesex but could perform for the whole tournament taking only nine wickets in the few matches he played.
After retirement from International cricket, Glenn McGrath joined Delhi Daredevils in the inaugural season of Indian Premier League in 2008. He ended the first season as the most economical bowler in the tournament.
As a reward, Glenn McGrath was retained by the franchise for the next season in 2009 but was never given a chance to bowl. In the later seasons, Delhi Daredevils paid the contract money to Glenn McGrath and signed him out of the league.
International Career
After the debut against New Zealand, Glenn McGrath was selected in ODI squad a month later. In the next series against New Zealand, it was a hard task for a youngster Glenn McGrath to prove his worth.
Against West Indies, Glenn McGrath was the best tool to control West Indian batting lineup, he proved what he was talented of in the series.
After the series against West Indies, Glenn McGrath followed it up with his inswinging deliveries, accurate Yorkers and bouncers making sure the batsman lose his wicket to the same bowler.
He faced injuries, the one happened in 2005 was the most horrific at the stage, his career was dimming down, and any serious injury could end it a year before it was supposed to end.
However, McGrath recovered from the injury and finally completed his 500th wicket against England at Lords’ Cricket Ground. With that feat, Glenn McGrath became only the fourth International bowler and the first fast bowler in the history of cricket to surpass 500 wickets mark. In that test match, Glenn McGrath bowled a brilliant spell giving away 24 runs for 4 wickets.
Glenn McGrath was injured after the first test and was rested for the remainder of the matches resulting in a series defeat for Australia in Ashes 2005-06. The injuries extended until 2006 ICC Champions Trophy, McGrath indicated that he is totally fit to contest in the Champions Trophy 2006.
In the following Ashes series in 2006-07, Glenn McGrath played his last one giving the best he can concluding it 5-0 after the fifth test. Under McGrath’s pace attack and supporting, bowlers such as Brett Lee, Australia completed their second whitewash since 1920-21 Ashes series.
It was the best Ashes for Glenn McGrath; he finished his test stats with 21 wickets in the Ashes at the SCG, his homeground. Glenn McGrath was given a standing ovation by players and the jam-packedcrowd as he walked away victorious from the stadium. He has the unique record of taking a wicket on the last ball of his Test career.
In the ICC World Cup 2007, McGrath indicated his retirement plan at the end of the tournament. McGrath was accurate and lethal throughout the tournament, finished the contest with a World Cup win and 26 wickets, most by any player in the event.
Glenn McGrath also won Man of the Tournament Award; he also became the all-time leading wicket taker in ICC World Cups combined.
Charity and Awards
Glenn McGrath has been working for several charity organizations including his own “McGrath Foundation”, a memorial charity and support foundation laid to help and aware the women of the possible breast cancer symptoms, where to cure them and financial help.
McGrath Foundation was founded as a joint venture by Glenn McGrath and his wife Jane who was also a victim of breast cancer in 2002. His Wife died of breast cancer in 2008 that was the most shocking moment of his life; he took over as the voluntary Chairman Board of Directors of McGrath Foundation.
As of 2017, McGrath Foundation helped around 150 breast care nurses reaching around 40,000 families and young girls across Australia in their awareness program.
In 2008, Glenn McGrath was named Member of the Order of Australia; his wife was awarded the same position for the services of McGrath Foundation in Australia.
He was also named Australian Cricketer of the Year in 2008 and later member of the ICC Hall of Fame in 2011 by Cricket Australia and later into ICC Hall of Fame in 2013.
Glenn McGrath Family & Personal Life
Glenn McGrath married his first wife Jane Louise 2001. Both dated for 6 years after deciding to tie nuptial knots. Glenn McGrath wife Jane was a flight attendant, both met in a nightclub in Hong Kong.
Both have two children named James McGrath and Holly McGrath. After their marriage, Jane had several surgeries and treatments regarding breast cancer, McGrath Foundation was created a year after their marriage to help women know about the disease.
Jane fought breast cancer for 11 years after being diagnosed in 1997; she died on 22nd June 2008 after the surgery.
After the death of Jane, Glenn McGrath found Sara Leonardi during IPL 2009 where most of the time he used to warm the bench in the tournament. Both dated for a year and a half and got married in November 2010.
Their first child, a girl was born on 4th September 2015; they named her Madison Mary Harper McGrath. The autobiography of Glenn McGrath, “Line and Strength” was written by McGrath himself, few pages were reserved for his late wife Jane in the book.
Some of the other books written by McGrath are Barbecue with the Master: the Glenn McGrath Barbecue Cookbook, Test of Will, World Cup Diary, and Test of Will: What I’ve Learned from Cricket and Life are worth reading.
