MELBOURNE: Australian paceman Glenn McGrath is scheduled to meet coach John Buchanan in Brisbane on Wednesday to map out his return ahead of the Ashes series.

The pair will discuss the possibility of him making a comeback for the ICC Champions Trophy in India in October-November or playing state cricket for NSW in the Pura Cup.

McGrath has not bowled a ball in a competitive match since January when his wife Jane was re-diagnosed with breast cancer. He skipped the tours of South Africa and Bangladesh to help her through the ordeal.

But after being given Jane's blessing, he heads to Cricket Australia's Centre of Excellence in Brisbane to plot his return to the game with Buchanan.

A good opportunity

"It'll be a really good opportunity for him just to get outdoors and have a bowl in front of a few of us, a few of the coaches, Troy Cooley and Dene Hills, Jamie Siddons and myself, and get a little bit of assessment of where he's at," Buchanan was quoted as saying on Tuesday.

"He says he's been physically doing some good work (with NSW) so that's a good sign. He hasn't played for a little period of time so he's got some catching up to do there but all signs are very good for his return," he added.

Several options

Buchanan said there were several options before McGrath.

One possibility is that McGrath could make an earlier-than-anticipated appearance in a proposed triangular series with South Africa and Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates in September.

"There's a whole range of options for him. There's no exact science to say if you do that then that will be the outcome but I think we'll get a programme that will have him ready for the Ashes," Buchanan added.

The opening Ashes Test gets underway at the Gabba on November 23.

Warning for England

Buchanan also warned England's lesser-known players they would not be able to fly under the radar during the series if given a call-up with injuries threatening to cripple the current Ashes holders.

Skipper Michael Vaughan is lying low with a knee injury, paceman Simon Jones (knee) is in serious doubt and spinner Ashley Giles has a hip injury. Dynamic all-rounder Andrew Flintoff is also battling to be fit.

Flintoff will undergo ankle surgery this week and is expected to be sidelined for three months.

"I'd still be confident that England will bring over pretty much just about a full complement. I think they're making sure that if players do suffer an injury or suspect there is something not quite right then they'll make sure they work on them until they get it right," Buchanan said.

"But come Ashes time and come the 23rd of November then they should have just about a full complement to pick from," he said.

"Their only real concern is Michael Vaughan at this stage, albeit there's a couple of others who are on the fringe, there's a Giles or a Jones or maybe a Flintoff, but I think they'll make sure they do everything possible to have everyone right for that tour," he added. — PTI

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