Returning spearhead Glenn McGrath has talked up the possibility of playing at 40, raising the prospect of a fourth and final Ashes tour in 2009.

McGrath turns 37 next February but said he remained as hungry as ever and felt he was only getting better in the twilight of his brilliant career.

Battling gamely through the Australian squad's four-day bush boot camp in southern Queensland, he rejected any notion of hanging his boots up after the 2007 World Cup.

"I know a lot of guys who have got a lot fitter and stronger when they are 40 than what they were when they were 25," McGrath said.

"The older you get the more experienced you are so mentally you're a lot stronger.

"As long as the body holds together then to me you've got to be a better cricketer, and the body's feeling great, I'm training hard and everything is going well."

McGrath would be 39 come the 2009 Ashes, which Shane Warne has also hinted at as a target.

The paceman, with 542 wickets from 119 Tests at 21.55, joked he would do his best just to pressure world record-holder Warne, currently boasting 685 scalps.

"I'm pretty lucky that my action is fairly sound. You never know I might have to push Warney along," he said.

"As long as the desire and the hunger are still there I'll play as long as I can."

McGrath's comments come as opening batsman Matthew Hayden, 35 in October, this week also spoke about playing for his country as long as possible.

The lanky seam bowler returns to the international scene next month in Australia's one-day tri-series against India and the West Indies in Malaysia.

Out of the game for almost eight months since wife Jane suffered a reoccurrence of cancer, her health remains the biggest factor in his future plans.

"At the moment it's probably the best we've been in the last seven or eight months," he said. "Every day is getting better. As long as I keep enjoying (cricket) and things go well at home and Jane's happy that's all that matters.

"I still love the game, still love playing, still love being around the guys and getting out in the middle and performing."

McGrath labelled September's two-week tri-series as perfect preparation for a huge summer to be headlined by the quest to regain the Ashes.

Motivated by the challenge of bowling on dry Indian pitches, he wants to play in the Champions' Trophy in October before taking on England rather than bowl with the red ball for NSW in the Pura Cup.

"A lot will depend on this tour of Malaysia," he said.

"It's a good test for me to see how things are going and also for the selectors.

"Otherwise playing those few Pura Cup games for NSW might be a better lead-up to the Ashes. At the end of the day that's the most important thing at the moment."

McGrath was grouped with skipper Ricky Ponting, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich and fielding coach Mike Young in a hard-core team-building commando-style camp, the brainchild of coach John Buchanan.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP