Australia in New Zealand 2004-05

McGrath shoots for 600 wickets

Cricinfo staff

March 8, 2005

Age shall not weary him: Glenn McGrath is ready for life beyond 35 © Getty Images

Glenn McGrath has lifted his sights to 600 Test wickets as he prepares to become the first Australia bowler to play a Test aged 35 since Ray Lindwall. The quirky record is a huge compliment to McGrath's ironman durability and his ability to recover from injuries, such as the ankle problem that almost ended his career last year.

While his pace partners were waiting to see who would join him in the first Test at Christchurch on Thursday, McGrath was resetting his goals. "I've always focused on 500 wickets but with the way I feel now, I've probably moved that up another 100," McGrath told the Courier-Mail. "I don't think I've ever felt as good as I have the last three months. I don't even feel the ankle any more and my confidence has never been higher."

McGrath currently has 481 wickets and the newspaper reported Sir Richard Hadlee saying he was a chance of passing 500 during the three-Test series. Hadlee played until he was 39, taking 431 Test wickets, and Courtney Walsh (519) and Curtly Ambrose (405) bowled well into middle-age.

Australia have to look back to Lindwall (228) and Keith Miller (170) for such longevity. Lindwall's final Test was against India at Eden Gardens in January 1960.

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