McGrath defends Australia's decision to bat on

BRISBANE: Glenn McGrath defended his team's decision to bat a second time in the first Ashes Test with England instead of enforcing the follow-on and chasing a quick kill in the series opener.   

Australia had the option of sending the weary tourists back in after bowling them out for 157 to lead by 445 runs with two and a half days to go.   

But Australian captain Ricky Ponting resisted the temptation of sending the English back in and allowed the home team to extend their lead to 626 with nine wickets in hand when stumps were drawn.   

McGrath, who took 6-50 in England's innings in his first Test appearance in almost 11 months, said Australia had considered enforcing the follow-on but decided there was still enough time to bat again and still chase victory.   

"When we decided not to enforce the follow-on, it was more about the fact we were only two and a half days through the Test match," McGrath said.   

"It's not how quickly you can try to win a Test match."   

McGrath said Ponting was wary of not wanting to overwork his pacemen so early in the series but that was not the deciding factor in the decision.   

"We just thought let the bowlers freshen up a little bit even though we were keen to go again if required," McGrath said.   

"It was more to do with the wicket itself. Each day you can see it is getting worse and worse. The cracks are opening up more and more and that'll be something that's definitely playing on their minds."   

McGrath also refuted suggestions the ploy could backfire on the Australians by giving England's erratic bowlers a chance to rediscover their rhythm.   

The lanky paceman argued that England's confidence may be further eroded after Australia effortlessly piled on 181 for one from 40 overs in their second innings after making 602 for nine in the first knock.   

"It's a funny thing cricket, when you're going well your confidence is up and everything seems to be going your way. But when your confidence is down and you go out and bowl again and you don't get any wickets it can have an even worse effect on your confidence."   

McGrath also said he was delighted with his own performance after spending so long out of the game.   

The 36-year-old took a break in January to care for his wife Jane after she was diagnosed with cancer but silenced the critics who claimed he was too old to make a comeback with a vintage display of pace bowling.   

"To get that after having so much time out of the game, I couldn't ask for a better comeback in respect to Test cricket," he said.