HOBART (Australia), Jan 10: Australia’s star fast bowler Glenn McGrath was confident he will be fit to play against England in the triangular series one-day cricket clash here on Saturday.

McGrath, who has been out with a side strain, said on Friday it had been tough watching from the sidelines as Australia lost the fifth Test to England and were then crushed by Sri Lanka on Thursday.

“I just can’t wait to get back out there,” he said.

McGrath said he was “90 per cent-plus fit and feeling pretty good.”

But management were to wait until they saw how he pulled up following another testing workout before deciding whether he will play.

“If it’s going the way it has from the last few bowls I’ve had, yes, I’m confident I’ll play,” McGrath said.

However, selectors, who also have worries about Darren Lehmann’s fitness following illness, will wait until the morning before finalising the team.

The last thing they want to do is risk McGrath a month ahead of the limited-overs World Cup in South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Australia are the reigning champions.

Captain Ricky Ponting said Lehmann was still feeling tired and rundown. “He has had a couple of days of not doing too much and we’ll see how he pulls up in the morning,” Ponting said.

England, with concerns over star batsman Michael Vaughan’s knee and shoulder and fast bowler Steve Harmison’s shin splints, will also wait until Saturday to name their team.

Captain Nasser Hussain is anxious to slot in Vaughan — Man-of-the-Series in the Ashes Tests — into the top three of the one-day side.—AFP