- In full:
- Glenn Donald McGrath
- Byname:
- Pigeon
- Born:
- February 9, 1970, Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia (age 56)
- On the Web:
- ABC News - VIDEO: Bowled Over | Glenn McGrath (Nov. 01, 2026)
Glenn McGrath
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Who is Glenn McGrath?
Glenn McGrath, born on February 9, 1970, in Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia, is celebrated as one of Australia's greatest cricketers. He holds the record for the most Test wickets (563) taken by a fast bowler in cricket history, a feat achieved between 1993 and 2007.
Standing tall at 6 feet 5 inches (1.95 meters), McGrath's strength wasn't raw speed but his impeccable accuracy, consistent bounce, and subtle movement off the pitch. Known for his psychological approach to the game, he often predicted series outcomes and targeted specific batsmen.
Off the field, McGrath is known as a gentle and humorous man. Together with his wife Jane, he established the McGrath Foundation in 2002 to support breast cancer research and education. In 2013, he was inducted into the International Cricket Councilâs Hall of Fame.
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Which sport did Glenn McGrath play for Australia?
Glenn McGrath played cricket for Australia. McGrath, born in Dubbo, New South Wales, made his Test debut against New Zealand in November 1993 and his one-day international debut the following month against South Africa. McGrath is known for taking more Test wickets (563) than any other fast bowler in cricket history during his career from 1993â2007. He relied on bounce and movement from the pitch, as well as his psychological mastery, to put pressure on batsmen. In 2013, McGrath was inducted into the International Cricket Councilâs Hall of Fame.
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What role or position did Glenn McGrath have in cricket?
Glenn McGrath, born in Australia, is celebrated as a cricketer who set a record of 563 Test wickets during his career from 1993 to 2007.
McGrath wasn't a fast bowler relying on pure speed. Instead, his height, upright delivery, and consistent action allowed him to produce bounce from any pitch. Known for his psychological approach, he often predicted series outcomes and targeted batsmen. On the field, he was an intense competitor, known for his accuracy and sharp remarks.
He reached 500 wickets in 2005 and surpassed Courtney Walsh's record of 519 wickets. After taking time off to care for his wife, Jane, who had cancer, McGrath returned to lead Australia to an Ashes victory in 2006â07. He concluded his career by helping Australia win the 2007 World Cup.
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What are some of Glenn McGrathâs major achievements in cricket?
Glenn McGrath, born in Australia in 1970, is celebrated as a cricketer who holds the record for the most Test wickets (563) taken by a fast bowler.
Key achievements:
- Made his Test debut against New Zealand in 1993.
- In 2005, he became the second fast bowler to take 500 wickets.
- Surpassed Courtney Walshâs 519 wickets.
- Led the attack as Australia reclaimed the Ashes 5â0 in 2006â07.
- In the 2007 World Cup, he was the leading bowler, with 26 wickets, helping Australia win.
McGrath and his wife Jane founded the McGrath Foundation in 2002, an organization that supports breast cancer research and education.
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How did Glenn McGrathâs bowling style make him successful?
Glenn McGrath's bowling success stemmed from his accuracy, height, and psychological approach. Though not relying on pure speed, his medium-fast pace, combined with a tall frame and precise delivery, allowed him to generate significant bounce and movement, even on unresponsive pitches. McGrath was a master of psychological warfare, known for unsettling batsmen with his predictions and on-field demeanor. His accuracy and relentless pressure made it difficult for batsmen to relax, and he relished challenges against top players.
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What has Glenn McGrath done after retiring from professional cricket?
After retiring from professional cricket in 2007, Glenn McGrath has been involved in several significant activities. In 2002, he and his wife Jane founded the McGrath Foundation, which supports breast cancer research and education. Following Jane's death in 2008 after a decade-long battle with cancer, McGrath continued his work with the foundation.
In 2008, McGrath was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia, and in 2013, he was inducted into the International Cricket Councilâs Hall of Fame, recognizing his contributions to the sport.
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Glenn McGrath (born February 9, 1970, Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia) is an Australian cricketer who took more Test wickets (563) than any other fast bowler in cricket history during a career than spanned 1993â2007.
McGrath was brought up in Narrowmine, Australia, where he was discovered by former Australian batsman Doug Walters. He progressed quickly through school, grade (club), and state cricket to the Australian Test team, making his Test debut against New Zealand in November 1993 and his one-day international debut the following month against South Africa.
McGrath was not a true fast bowler in that he did not rely on pure speed to take wickets. His average pace was medium-fast, but at 6 feet 5 inches (1.95 metres) tall, with a near-perfect upright delivery stride and metronomic action, he generated bounce and movement from the most docile pitch. Above all, he was a master of psychology, regularly predicting the results of Test series before the start and targeting individual batsmen for particular pressure. A gentle and humorous man off the field, on the field McGrath was an unsmiling competitorâwith the accuracy of his bowling and with the acidity of his tongueâwho never let any batsman relax. McGrath relished wearing his Baggy Green cap, the symbol of the Australian team, and delighted in battles against the best batsmen in the worldâparticularly the much renowned West Indian Brian Lara.
McGrath became the second fast bowler (after Courtney Walsh of the West Indies) to take 500 wickets, at Lordâs Cricket Ground in London in the first Test of the 2005 Ashes series, which England unexpectedly won 2â1. Less than three months later, in the Super Test at Sydney, he surpassed Walshâs 519 wickets. McGrath took time away from the game during the 2006â07 season (which proved to be his last) to help his wife, Jane, who was being treated for cancer. However, even at age 36, he came back strongly to lead the attack as Australia reclaimed the Ashes 5â0 in the southern summer of 2006â07. His Test farewell was eclipsed by the departure of his more charismatic teammate, leg-spin bowler Shane Warne, but McGrath could be sure that Australia would miss him equally. (Often working in tandem, he and Warne took 1,271 Test wickets between them, while McGrath alone took 563 wickets in 124 Tests at an average of 21.64 runs per innings.) McGrath crowned his international career by helping Australia win the 2007 World Cup, in which he was the leading bowler, with 26 wickets.
With Jane he founded the McGrath Foundation, an organization that supplies funding for breast cancer research and education, in 2002; after a nearly 10-year battle with various forms of cancer, she died in 2008. That year McGrath became a Member of the Order of Australia. In 2013 he was inducted into the International Cricket Councilâs Hall of Fame.