Date:03/04/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/04/03/stories/2003040300192200.htm

Sport - Cricket

McGrath to return home

By P. Subramanyam

London April 2. In an unexpected development, pace bowler Glenn McGrath has been given permission to return home from Australia's tour of the West Indies as his wife, Jane, has taken ill, the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) said on Wednesday.

The Australian touring team is at present in London en route to Guyana.

In a communiqué, The ACB said McGrath had been granted leave after he received medical advice about Jane.

The rest of the squad will leave London today (Wednesday) and reach Georgetown, Guyana, late in the day.

The ACB did not say how long McGrath would be away or if a replacement would be send. More details are expected by Friday.

McGrath, who is due to be back in Sydney tomorrow (Thursday), has so far declined to comment on this issue.

Australia is scheduled to play four Tests and seven one-day Internationals in the Caribbean. The World Cup winner begins its tour with a three-day opening game against President's XI in Georgetown, starting on Saturday. The team management hopes to have its pace spearhead back in time for the first Test commencing on April 10. McGrath has taken 422 wickets in 91 Tests at an average of 21.45.