Sydney:
Australian pace legend Glenn McGrath was on Thursday immortalised in wax with his life-size statue becoming the newest addition to the world-famous Madame Tussauds Museum here.
McGrath was the winner of the Madame Tussauds Sydney Aussie Votes campaign where the Australian public was asked to cast their vote on which sporting hero they wanted to see immortalised in wax.
The wax figure portrays McGrath in mid-action, about to deliver a fast ball down the wicket. McGrath was at the inauguration to re-enact the pose.
Portrayed from the success of the 2006/2007 Ashes series, McGrath`s wax figure is wearing the Australian Test team whites, with his number 358 embroidered on his shirt.
McGrath donated both the spiked shoes that the wax figure wears as well as the ball in his hand.
McGrath`s figure now stands alongside fellow Australian cricket greats in the Sports Zone including Shane Warne and Donald Bradman, as well as Indian cricket star Sachin Tendulkar.
"Having been chosen by the Australian public to be immortalised in wax and stand alongside other sporting greats is truly an honour. The whole making-of process of the wax figure has been a real eye opener and I`m very pleased to see they have recreated my bowling stance perfectly," McGrath said.
The wax figure took a staggering 800 hours, 60 Madame Tussauds artists and 250 different measurements to complete, along with exact colour matches for his eyes, skin tone and hair. This intricate process took many months, with the insertion of each hair taking six weeks alone.
"Australia is a sporting nation and has produced some of the biggest sporting heroes the world has ever seen so we are extremely proud to be able to welcome another Aussie legend to Madame Tussauds Sydney.
"The Glenn McGrath wax figure was chosen by the Australian public and will no-doubt be a highlight in the attraction for many years to come, especially during the up and coming Ashes," said Quinn Clarke, General Manager, Madame Tussauds Sydney.
At the height of his career, McGrath was one of the most dangerous fast bowlers of his time and currently holds the world record for the highest number of Test wickets by a fast bowler.
