McGrath insists he's fit to tour

Glenn McGrath has made a last-gasp plea to Australia's selectors to try and convince them that he his fit for the Sri Lanka series. The squad is due to be announced on Friday.

McGrath has been out of action with an ankle injury since July, during which time he has undergone two operations. He was due to make a comeback for New South Wales at the weekend but pulled out.

"I have had a number of excellent net sessions over the past week and the ankle feels fantastic," he said. "I have been training hard over the past month with my personal trainer and I am the fittest I have been for a long time.

"I'll speak to the selectors this week and find out just what they are thinking. It would be nice to have a chat with them and see what is expected of me."

McGrath's inclusion would have been a gamble even if he had played for his state, but without any meaningful work-out, the selectors are unlikely to take the risk. And although he reportedly came through a 40-minute net without any side effects, his withdrawal from the weekend's game is likely to count against him.

But Ricky Ponting refused to rule out the possibility. "You'd want him in the team but you'd like to know he was 100 per cent fit as well," Ponting said. "I doubt he'd able to say that without a game under his belt and I don't know if the selectors are thinking about that ... but sometimes you have to take the player's word for it. Being the champion bowler he is you'd have to consider it."

Warren Craig, McGrath's manager, was as keen to promote his client's cause. "He's ready to play and then it's up to the selectors as to whether he's got enough cricket behind him to select him," he said. "He'll be playing for his club and seeing where it takes him."