'Australia are Super Series favourites' - McGrath

Glenn McGrath: all set to take on the world © Getty Images

Glenn McGrath says Australia are favourites for the one-off Test and three one-dayers against the ICC World XI at Sydney and Melbourne. The series is more than eight months away, but McGrath has already begun firing his verbal volleys.

"As a team unit, we probably should be favourites," he was quoted in the Sportal website. "The other guys are class players but they haven't played together, so it will be interesting to see how they do team up. It's probably been a while since we haven't been favourites going into a match, so we'll see how we go."

Australia are assured of playing the Test against the World XI due to their unassailable lead in the ICC Test championship standings. They also hold a commanding lead in the one-day rankings, although New Zealand have a mathematical chance of overtaking them if Australia lose their next seven matches before the cut-off.

The World XI selectors will announce a preliminary squad of 30 players at the end of April, while the final Test and one-day squads will be named in August. The one-dayers will be played at Melbourne on October 5, 7, and 9, while the Test - a six-day affair - will start on October 14 at Sydney.

McGrath said the aim wasn't to prove that Australia were the best team of all time. "It's not up to the players to say whether we're a great team or not, but if we can do well and turn around and win it, then I'm sure there will be a few comments floating around," he said.

"At the end of the day when we're out in the middle, we want to play against the best players in the world, and if you can do well against them, then that's your true standing in the big picture."

McGrath, who turns 35 next week, is set to play his 200th one-day international when Australia take on Pakistan in the first final of the VB Series, and needs only two more wickets to reach a milestone of 300 ODI scalps. "For any fast bowler to reach 200 is a pretty big thing. Three-hundred one-day wickets, for me personally, is a pretty big milestone and something I will be very happy and honoured to achieve if and when I get there."