McGrath and Charlie Turner to be inducted into Oz hall of fame

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Former fast bowlers Glenn McGrath and Charlie Turner will be inducted into the Australian Cricket hall of fame at this year’s Allan Border Medal ceremony tomorrow night here.

ACHoF chairman David Crow today said McGrath and Turner were the selection committee’s unanimous choice for induction this year. “Glenn McGrath and Charlie Turner were each the outstanding Australian fast bowler of their era. Despite careers more than a century apart, they had much in common,” said Crow.

“Tall, right-arm fast bowlers, both men hailed from country New South Wales. Their superb records demonstrate the dominance each had over opposition batsmen over a prolonged period.”

Thrust into Test cricket in 1993 with limited first-class experience, McGrath became the greatest Australian fast bowler of his generation. In a 14-year Test career spanning 124 matches, McGrath’s 563 wickets at 21.64 is the highest tally by a fast bowler and fourth-highest of all-time, behind Shane Warne, Muttiah Muralitharan and Anil Kumble.

His unrelenting accuracy and immaculate length also posed problems for batsmen in limited-overs internationals, with his 381 wickets the sixth-highest in history.

In the 2007 World Cup, McGrath’s swansong for Australia, he took a record 26 wickets and was named Man of the Tournament. Winner of the Allan Border medal (2000) and named Wisden Cricketer of the Year (1998), McGrath was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in December last year.