Don't write me off, says McGrath

Glenn McGrath has warned those writing him off ahead of this years Ashes and aims to reclaim a spot among the top three ranks in the Australian team.

McGrath opted out of Australia's tours to South Africa and Bangladesh so that he could stay with his wife Jane, who is battling cancer. "Whenever people have written me off, I have always proved them wrong," McGrath told The Sunday Telegraph. "People can say what they want but all it means is I'll be proving them wrong again.

"I can't see why some people are singling me out. I've been working on a number of things I believe will make me an even better bowler come the start of the Ashes. I don't say things just for the effect. I say things because I believe them. I'm the best person to judge how I'm going and I'm back in training and have never felt better.

"I'm really in the same position as every other player because the Ashes will be our first series after a long break. If anything, I'm ahead of some of the other guys because they are now resting. I've been back working hard for a couple of months and feel very fresh. Binger [Brett Lee] and Huss [Michael Hussey] have had great years, so I expect to slide down the rankings. One of my goals is to make it back into the top three."

McGrath felt that the Champions Trophy would be good preparation for the Ashes. "We have the ICC Champions Trophy and I can't think of a better way to get back into the game than through one-day cricket. In some respects, it will be harder for the batsmen going into the Ashes with just some one-day cricket under their belts."