Australia's cricketers will wear pink ribbons and use pink-handled bats during the one-day international against West Indies in St Vincent on Tuesday as a tribute to Jane McGrath, the wife of the former Australia fast bowler Glenn, who died on Sunday.
McGrath had been fighting breast and hip cancer and a brain tumour for the past decade. She died at home at the age of 42 from complications after surgery in March.
Although his wife battled with her illness for much of his Test career, Glenn McGrath's professionalism earned him a reputation as one of the most effective and economical opening bowlers in world cricket. He withdrew from Australia's tour to South Africa in 2006 to spend time with his wife when the brain tumour was diagnosed, but returned to play one more year of top-level cricket, retiring after the World Cup in 2007.
(Kristian Dowling/Getty)
Glenn and Jane McGrath
The couple had met in 1995 at a Hong Kong nightclub. Breast cancer was diagnosed two years later, during Australia's Ashes tour of England. They married in 1999 and had two children.
Together they had set up the McGrath Foundation to educate women about breast cancer and to provide support for those who suffered from it. They were appointed Members of the Order of Australia this year in recognition of their charity work.
In a statement, McGrath said: "Jane would want those women who are battling breast cancer to stay strong. She would want them to draw strength from the fact that she didn't only 'survive' breast cancer for 11 years, but during that time she lived life to the fullest and found pleasure in the simple things so many people take for granted."
Ricky Ponting, the Australia captain, said: "Jane was a wonderful person who fought and maintained grace and dignity during her long-term illness."
A tribute was also paid by Kevin Rudd, the Australian Prime Minister, who said: "Jane's courageous struggle touched all Australians. Jane was an inspiration whose legacy will continue to benefit so many others."
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McGrath had been fighting breast and hip cancer and a brain tumour for the past decade. She died at home at the age of 42 from complications after surgery in March.
Although his wife battled with her illness for much of his Test career, Glenn McGrath's professionalism earned him a reputation as one of the most effective and economical opening bowlers in world cricket. He withdrew from Australia's tour to South Africa in 2006 to spend time with his wife when the brain tumour was diagnosed, but returned to play one more year of top-level cricket, retiring after the World Cup in 2007.
(Kristian Dowling/Getty)
Glenn and Jane McGrath
The couple had met in 1995 at a Hong Kong nightclub. Breast cancer was diagnosed two years later, during Australia's Ashes tour of England. They married in 1999 and had two children.
Together they had set up the McGrath Foundation to educate women about breast cancer and to provide support for those who suffered from it. They were appointed Members of the Order of Australia this year in recognition of their charity work.
In a statement, McGrath said: "Jane would want those women who are battling breast cancer to stay strong. She would want them to draw strength from the fact that she didn't only 'survive' breast cancer for 11 years, but during that time she lived life to the fullest and found pleasure in the simple things so many people take for granted."
Ricky Ponting, the Australia captain, said: "Jane was a wonderful person who fought and maintained grace and dignity during her long-term illness."
A tribute was also paid by Kevin Rudd, the Australian Prime Minister, who said: "Jane's courageous struggle touched all Australians. Jane was an inspiration whose legacy will continue to benefit so many others."
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