McGrath is out of Edgbaston Test

[Danny]

Bugger!

McGrath is out of Edgbaston Test
SECOND TEST - MATCH SUMMARY (Edgbaston, Day 1):
England v Australia
Full scorecard
BBC

Glenn McGrath has been ruled out of the second Test at Edgbaston after being injured in the pre-match warm-up on Thursday.

The Australia fast bowler injured his right ankle playing a rugby-style game and Mike Kasprowicz has been called up as his replacement.

England have named an unchanged XI for the second Test and are aiming to bounce back from a 239-run defeat.

Michael Vaughan is fit after recovering from an elbow injury.

[hhh]

Pity the authors of an old injury surveillance only mentioned no playing of soccer style warm-ups and didn't mention rugby!

[papa]

Put all your money on a draw!

[Thihan]

If you want to see the effects of frontal lobe function on motor control. Check out Jason Gillespies bowling action compared to the first test. Its amazing what a the body can do when there's no other choice. May be McGrath just took one for the team.

[Danny]

McGrath no chance for third Test
From Tony Lawrence in Birmingham
August 8, 2005
Foxsports

AUSTRALIA fast bowler Glenn McGrath is improving after missing the second Ashes Test with an ankle injury but seems set to miss the third Test as well.

Improving ... McGrath has dispensed with the crutches. Pic: Agence France-Presse

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"I don't know if Glenn is definitely out (of the third Test) but he's unlikely to play," captain Ricky Ponting said last night.

"He has improved, he's off his crutches and moving quite freely but more realistically it will be Trent Bridge."

The third Test of the five-match series starts at Old Trafford on Thursday, with the fourth at Trent Bridge beginning on August 25.

McGrath's absence in England's two-run victory at Edgbaston was arguably a crucial factor. The 35-year-old stepped on a stray cricket ball just before the toss on Thursday and damaged ankle ligaments.

Australia, resuming on 8-175 and needing 282 to win, almost snatched the game. Tailenders Shane Warne made 42, Brett Lee 43 not out and Michael Kasprowicz, McGrath's replacement, 20 before he was last man out.

"You are always going to miss someone of Glenn's ability," Ponting added with a smile. "But if he had been batting at the end we might not have got that close."

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McGrath has 508 test wickets and needs only 12 more to become the most successful fast bowler in test history. His ability with the bat, however, has left him as a confirmed number 11. He averages 7.51 in tests.