glenn mcgrath

Born: 09.02.1970
State: New South Wales
Tests: 124
Role: Bowler
Bat: Right-hand
Bowl: Right-arm fast-medium
Bat Average: 7.36
Bowl Average: 21.64

Glenn McGrath is certainly the champion Australian paceman of modern times, and arguably their greatest ever.

His record - 542 wickets at 21 - stands up to the highest scrutiny and his 119 Tests highlight his durability.

McGrath bowls at little more than a brisk medium pace, but a high action generates bounce, and he gets off-cut from an impeccable line and length, often accounting for the opposition's key players - notably Michael Atherton and Brian Lara.

Time and again McGrath has been written off - it happened at least twice in the last Ashes series - but every time he comes back to prove them wrong.

His tenacity is perhaps best shown in his batting. When he arrived in Test cricket 13 years ago, McGrath was the ultimate number 11, but through tireless application he has fashioned himself into a serviceable blocker, and his 61 against New Zealand in 2004/05 is the third-highest score ever made by a number 11 in Test cricket.

But it's his incredibly consistent performances with the ball that have made him one of the greats. He has more Test wickets than any other fast bowler in history, and ominously warns he's "never felt better" as he prepares to win back the Ashes.

His injuries played a key role last year's series - England won the two Tests he missed - and he is determined to reclaim the urn before he hangs up his boots.

There will come a time when Australia have to find a way to replace the wickets of McGrath and Shane Warne, but the New South Welshman is determined to delay that day for as long as possible.

McGrath has made his now-traditional Ashes prediction of a 5-0 Australia win, and his fitness will be paramount to the home team's chances with the rest of the seam attack lacking his hold over the English.