McGrath can finish international career on a high

Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath, who will retire from all forms of cricket after the World Cup final against Sri Lanka on Saturday, can finish his international career in a real style.

At the front of his mind will, of course, be helping his team win its third consecutive ICC World Cup title, but another classy performance will also move him up to second in the ICC ODI bowlers rankings.

The 37-year-old fast bowler is having a dream World Cup. On Wednesday, he became the first bowler to claim 25 wickets in the coveted tournament when he reduced the South Africans to shambles with a three-wicket haul in St Lucia.

He overtook the record of 23 wickets set by Sri Lankan pacer Chaminda Vaas in the 2003 World Cup. His 25 wickets in 10 matches have come at an average of 13.04, with an exceptional strike-rate of 17.7 balls per wicket.

The big New South Welshman is up two places in the latest rankings to third and he is now just six ratings points behind team-mate Nathan Bracken, who has also been having a fine tournament.

Number-one ranked bowler Shaun Pollock of South Africa is still out of sight at the top but McGrath can sign off from the international scene on a big high.

Apart from McGrath and Bracken, Australia's other bowlers are also making their presence felt on the bowlers' rankings.

No fewer than six bowlers in the top 20 are likely to be in action in Saturday's final at Kensington Oval in Barbados. (ANI)

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