100 Tests, 500 wickets is McGrath's goal

PERTH, NOV. 30. Australian pace spearhead Glenn McGrath has signed on for the long haul by declaring he wants to reach the milestone of 500 Test wickets.

The 30-year-old fast bowler, who destroyed the West Indies in the first Test at Brisbane, should attain the 300-mark in Friday's second Test against the tourists in Perth.

But McGrath said that was only a stepping stone to his long-term career goals.

McGrath wants to play at least 100 Tests - he has just played his 63rd-which would also keep him in the running for the 2003 World Cup along with captain Steve Waugh, who has signalled his desire to play for another three years.

McGrath's lengthy commitment is good news for the Australian team which he has helped to make the best in the world.

``I'm really enjoying it at the moment and the body feels great and I'm bowling well,'' McGrath said on Tuesday. ``My ultimate goal is to play 100 Tests and I'd like to average about five wickets a Test at the end of my career, so that's the aim.

``I'm 202 wickets away from 500 so if I can stay fit and on the path and play for another three or four years then it's a realistic goal.''

McGrath showed he was at the peak of his powers in Brisbane last weekend when he returned match figures of 10 for 27 in the crushing innings and 126-run Test thrashing of the West Indies.

That moved his wicket haul to 298, leaving him behind only Dennis Lillee (355) and Shane Warne (366) on Australia's list of all- time wicket-takers.

McGrath is 16th on the all-time Test wicket-takers' list, still a long way behind the ageless Courtney Walsh, (484) who is leading the West Indian attack in Australia.

Walsh will almost certainly wait until he passes the 500-barrier before retiring but McGrath could be locked in a race with prolific Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan (291 from 57 Tests) to be the next bowler to reach the milestone.

That's if injury niggles continue to beset Warne and if fourth- placed Pakistani confirms speculation he is considering retirement as early as next year.

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Section  : Sport
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