SYDNEY, Aug 18: Australian paceman Glenn McGrath, fighting his way back to full fitness, still strikes fear in England's batsmen, coach John Buchanan said on Friday.

McGrath, 37 in February and without a Test since last January after his wife's cancer scare, is doing six to eight training sessions a week to be fit for November's Ashes battle with England, starting in Brisbane.

Buchanan believes McGrath remains a potent force in the twilight of his 119-Test match career and deserves the new ball for the first Ashes Test at the Gabba on Nov 23.

Buchanan feels the aura of McGrath, the greatest wicket-taking fast bowler in Tests with 542 wickets, still unnerves opposing batsmen.

“There is no doubt that for some of our older bowlers, like Glenn and Warney (Shane Warne), with age comes a lessening of some of the physical aspects of your game,” Buchanan said in Friday's edition of The Sydney Morning Herald.

“But more than out-pointing that is the experience and sense of aura guys like that bring to the team.

“Glenn has earned the respect of his opponents over time with all that he has achieved. That hasn't changed.

“He provides impact, defence and variety. Not many bowlers are capable of that. I think that if he is fit, he deserves a chance (to open the bowling).”

McGrath has taken most of his wickets (136) in 25 Test matches against England at 20.47, better than his Test career average of 21.56.

Australia's chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said his panel would discuss McGrath's likely role in the coming weeks.

“We haven't really discussed yet where Glenn will bowl,” Hilditch told the Herald.

“That's generally the role of the captain (Ricky Ponting), deciding the bowling order, but with Glenn it's a matter of monitoring his comeback and seeing how he progresses.”—AFP