McGrath, who was born in Dubbo, New South Wales in 1970, represented Australia in 124 Test matches between 1993 and 2007 claiming 563 Test wickets at an average of 21.64, thus holding the record for most wickets by a fast bowler in Tests until 2018. Australia won 22 of the 30 Ashes Test matches that he played, with the side losing just four matches when McGrath was part of the bowling attack.

McGrath was part of the Australian side that won three successive ICC Cricket World Cups – 1999, 2003 and 2007. 

When McGrath retired from the game in 2007 he had represented Australia in 250 ODIs, claiming 381 wickets at an average of 22.02 while he took over 800 first-class wickets in his career.