McGrath considering county stint

Glenn McGrath played for Worcestershire in 2000 and could play a month of county cricket this season © Getty Images

Glenn McGrath, the Australia fast bowler, is considering returning to play county cricket again after opting out of Australia's tour of Bangladesh. McGrath, who ruled himself out of Australia's current tour of South Africa, is in Australia with his wife, Jane, who is suffering from cancer.

Despite having not played a Test since January McGrath's manager, Warren Craig, insists that his career is certainly far from finished. "Absolutely - he'll be back," he said.

"Things are going well at the moment [with Jane]. I can't say great because we won't know for a few months with all the tests, but Glenn is certainly expecting to be back next summer.

"We'll talk to the selectors about whether it might be best for him to play a month of English county cricket before then."

A return stint this summer in county cricket, assuming his wife is well enough, would enable him to find some form in the off-season ahead of Australia's summer later in the year. Clearly, McGrath's aim is to be fit - and, crucially, in form - for the Ashes which gets underway in November before which Australia host New Zealand in October.

McGrath is no stranger to county cricket, having played a season with Worcestershire in 2000 and six matches with Middlesex in 2004. During the Ashes last year, he indicated where his allegiances lay.

"I've played for two counties and I don't really want to make it three. I would say that Worcestershire are probably still top of my list."