Sydney, Sept. 4: Glenn McGrath will return to international cricket in next month’s ICC Champions Trophy tournament in India after he was chosen on Monday in a 14-man Australian squad.

Test cricket’s leading wicket-taking fast bowler hasn’t played since January when he stood down to support his wife Jane in fighting breast cancer. There had been debate whether 36-year-old McGrath would have been better off playing domestic cricket to ease his way back into the game ahead of the Ashes series with England in November.

But McGrath convinced the selectors to take him to both one-day tournaments in Malaysia and India.

"We’ve decided that the best way for Glenn to make his way back into international cricket is to play international cricket," chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said.

"We believe the combination of the Malaysian tri-series and the Champions Trophy is ideal preparation for what will be a huge summer of cricket for Glenn."

McGrath is delighted with his fitness work in the lead-up to the one-day tournaments in Malaysia and India. "I’m finding it really well. I’m probably more excited for this season than before," he said.