10 February 2004	Tuesday	18 Zilhaj 1424

MELBOURNE, Feb 9: Australian chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said on Monday time was running out for Glenn McGrath to prove his fitness for next month's Test series against Sri Lanka.

McGrath, who turned 34 on Monday, has not played a Test since the July home series against Bangladesh because of ankle trouble and is desperate to try and play for New South Wales in his bid to return to the national side.

Australia's premier fast bowler failed to prove his fitness for a NSW second XI match against Tasmania's second XI, which started in Hobart on Monday, and will now aim to make his comeback for a domestic one-day match against South Australia on Sunday.

But with the Test squad for the Sri Lanka series to be named next week, McGrath has just that match and a Sheffield Shield game against South Australia starting on Tuesday to show selectors he has put his injury behind him.

Hohns conceded McGrath was running out of time to prove his fitness and that he may be too ambitious by aiming to play in the first Test in Sri Lanka, starting in Galle on March 8. -AFP