Glenn McGrath is one of the greatest bowlers in cricketing history and a vital force behind Australia's domination of world cricket from the mid-1990s to the early 21st century. Check out some interesting facts about him:
Interesting facts about Glenn McGrath
# Glenn McGrath was born on February 9, 1970 in Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia.
# As a child, he used to bowl at a fuel drum that sat against his dad's machinery shed in Narromine to improve his accuracy.
# He completed a carpentry course at tech college but has never put it to use.
# Nickname - Pigeon. One of his New South Wales teammate Brad McNamara gave him the name because of his thin legs.
# He holds the record for dismissing the most batsmen for ducks in test cricket.
# He dismissed former England captain Michael Atherton 19 times in Test matches, the highest tally for any Test bowler against one batsman.
# Shane Warne once bet A$1,000 if he would make a first-class fifty. He made 55 against Nottinghamshire.
# He has taken 563 wickets in test cricket, highest by any fast bowler at international level
# He was inducted into ICC Hall of fame in January 2013
# He took 563 test wickets in 124 matches at an average of 21.64. This includes 29 five wickets haul in an innings and 3 Ten wickets haul.
# He took 381 ODI wickets in 250 matches at an average of 22.02. This includes 7 five wickets haul.
# He married twice: his first wide Jane died from complications following cancer surgery in June 2008. He later married Sara Leonardi, an interior designer in November 2010
# In 2002, Glenn and his first wife Jane founded the McGrath Foundation, a breast cancer support and education charity in Australia. After the death of Jane in June 2008 due to breast cancer, Glenn accepted the voluntary role of Chairman of the Board of the McGrath Foundation. He participates in many fund raising activities in support of the Foundation to ensure the fulfilment of the Foundation's vision.
# In 2001, he was selected among one of just twenty-one Australian athletes to be inducted into the Australian Institute of SportBest of the Best list