A traditional, lanky pace bowler, sporting a desperate inability with the bat, McGrath took over the mantle of Australia's frontline fast bowler after the retirement of Craig McDermott in 1996. McGrath produces a hostile pace and, thanks to his height, bounce on even the most unhelpful of pitches. Despite regular difficulties with injury, he appears well on the way to being one of Australia's, and the world's, leading Test wicket-takers.

Career highlights include an extraordinary first 8/38 against England in a rain-affected Test at Lord's in 1997 and an epic World Cup encounter with India in 1999. Bowling at an average 85 mph, his fastest ball whizzing in at 88 mph, McGrath removed India's top batsman Sachin Tendulkar for a duck with his sixth ball and also removed Rahul Dravid and skipper Mohammad Azharuddin a brutal opening spell of three for 20 off seven hostile overs. He finished with figures of three for 34 from 10 overs, single-handedly winning the match for Australia and providing the momentum that took them to the title. His secret? "I just went out and enjoyed myself," he said afterwards.

Robust and fierce in his ambition, continually setting higher standards for himself, his competitive nature can go too far on occasion and has found him on the wrong side of match referees on several ocassions.