July 12, 2006	Wednesday	Jumadi-ul-Sani 15, 1427

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SYDNEY, July 11: Australia's selectors are mulling over the best strategy for getting leading fast bowler Glenn McGrath fit for the Ashes series starting in November. The 36-year-old missed tours of South Africa and Bangladesh this year to help his wife Jane recover from cancer, but with her health improving he is now ready to step up his bid to face England.

“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,” chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said on Tuesday.

One of the key areas of discussion will be whether to send McGrath, Test cricket's third highest wicket taker with 542 victims in 119 matches, to India in October for the one-day Champions Trophy.

“That will be something we'll talk through with Glenn and the Australian coaches,” Hilditch said. “We need to make sure Glenn's programme is exactly as he wants it and we need it to be so he's ready to play in the Ashes.”—Reuters