McGrath doubt for CT

Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath is unlikely to take part in this October’s ICC Champions Trophy in India.

McGrath, now 36, missed his country’s recent successful tours of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka due to his wife Jane’s ongoing battle with cancer, and Cricket Australia’s chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch told AAP that the New South Wales quick may be better served by skipping the ODI tournament too.

“We’re going to sit down with the coaching staff and map out Glenn’s fitness and how he needs to best get back into playing cricket again. That [the Indian series] will be something we’ll talk through with Glenn and the Australian coaches and make sure Glenn’s program is exactly as he wants it and we need it to be so he’s ready to play in the Ashes.”

The Champions Trophy begins on October 7 as Sri Lanka take on Bangladesh in Mohali. Australia, who are grouped with England, India and a Qualifier (likely to be either the West Indies or Sri Lanka), play their first game in Mumbai on October 21