It took Glenn McGrath just nine balls on the third day of the third Test against Pakistan at Sharjah to reach the landmark of 400 Test wickets. It would have come sooner had he not dropped Waqar Younis off his fifth ball of the morning. As it was it only delayed the celebrations for another four balls. McGrath began the match needing just four more wickets to become the eighth member of Test cricket's 400 Club. Against a dispirited Pakistan side it was a question of when rather than if.

"It took a while to sleep thinking about my 400th wicket," said McGrath. "But I didn't have to wait long this morning and it was very enjoyable out there in the middle. I try to learn from each match and I am always learning. I like to bowl to a plan."

McGrath added that he had not yet fulfilled his ambitions. "Of course, my immediate goal is take 450 wickets and then go on to get 500 in Tests and 300 in one-day games. I am still enjoying my bowling and my body is going well. Everything is going well though I miss my family but I have to put bread and milk on the table."

McGrath, who made his debut against New Zealand in 1993-94, is playing in his 87th Test, one more than the great Sir Richard Hadlee, against whom all fast bowlers are judged. And though he has fewer wickets to his name, McGrath's average of 21.76 (at the start of the match) is superior to Hadlee's 22.29, and second only to Curtly Ambrose (20.99) among the 400 boys.

As for his strike rate of a wicket every 51.67 balls, only Hadlee himself (50.85) can outdo that. Even the most prolific wicket-taker of recent years, Muttiah Muralitharan, can manage no more than a paltry 59.38.

Click here for a list of the top Test wicket-takers
Click here for a breakdown of Glenn McGrath's career

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