Sydney: Veteran Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath has announced he would bow out of cricket after the 2007 World Cup tournament, following in the footsteps of teammate Shane Warne.

After a training session in Melbourne ahead of the fourth Ashes Test starting on Boxing Day, McGrath, 36, announced that the Sydney Test match next month, on his home cricket ground, would be his last five-day game.

"It's probably a perfect or fitting ending," McGrath said.

"It's only been the last few days that I've really thought about it," he said.

McGrath's announcement comes two days after Warne revealed he would give up international competition after the Sydney Test.
 

McGrath, the most successful fast bowler in cricket history, said he would play his last limited-overs games at the World Cup in the Caribbean, which runs from March 11 to April 28.

Having taken 555 wickets in 122 Tests since debuting against New Zealand in 1993, McGrath is third on the list of all-time wicket-takers behind only Warne (699) and Sri Lankan offspinner Muttiah Muralitharan (674).

McGrath's decision to call it quits clears up frenzied speculation that he would leave the sport after the Ashes series to spend more time with family.
 

He spent most of 2006 out of international cricket to be with wife Jane in her battle against cancer.

However, McGrath said his wife's illness had nothing to do with his decision, which, along with Warne's announcement, comes less than a fortnight after batsman Damien Martyn, 35, called time on his cricket career.