Glenn McGrath AM (b. 1970), philanthropist and former Test cricketer, is one of international cricket's greatest ever fast bowlers. Born in Dubbo and raised in Narromine, New South Wales, he started his career playing grade cricket in Sydney having been spotted by former Australian Test batsman Doug Walters. He made his debut for NSW in 1992 and played his first Test against New Zealand in November the following year. In 1997 he took eight wickets for 38 runs against England at Lords; he collected 32 wickets in the 2001 Ashes series and nineteen in the Ashes series of 2002–2003. McGrath achieved his best Test figures when he took eight for 24 against Pakistan in Perth in December 2004. That year, he became the first Australian fast bowler to play 100 Tests, and he scored his first half century at the crease in Brisbane. In 2005 he eclipsed West Indies paceman Courtney Walsh to become the fast bowler with the greatest number of Test wickets; and – along with his teammate Shane Warne – he remains one of only seven bowlers whose Test tally exceeds 500 wickets. McGrath was the Alan Border Medallist in 2000, Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1998, 1999 and 2005–2006, and in 2013 he was inducted into the International Cricket Council Hall of Fame. The NSW Australian of the Year for 2008, McGrath was named a Member of the Order of Australia in January the same year – both for his services to cricket and to the community through the McGrath Foundation. Established by McGrath and his late first wife Jane in 2005, the McGrath Foundation has since raised many millions for the support and care of breast cancer patients and their loved ones.
