Strauss (top) and Cook will face McGrath in November

McGrath's tongue-in-cheek threats have become a feature of the build-up to a series against England - last year he predicted a 5-0 whitewash.

"There's the young fellow Cook who's done well so far, he's one of many," McGrath told Sydney commercial radio.

"There's no use naming one, these days you name two or three. You always name the captain."

McGrath, 36, began the tradition in the 1990s by singling out then England skipper Michael Atherton, who he dismissed 19 times over the course of his career.

He has nominated Michael Vaughan as his bunny in the last two series.

But Vaughan was the leading run-scorer on either side in Australia four years ago and played a major role in his side's success last summer, while McGrath missed two Tests through injury.

Strauss, who will hand over the captaincy if Andrew Flintoff returns to fitness, hit key centuries against McGrath at Old Trafford and The Oval in 2005.

Cook, who hit a century on Test debut against India in March and already has two tons in the series against Pakistan, averages 59.40 after seven Tests.

Test cricket's most successful fast bowler with 542 wickets, McGrath said he was feeling sharp and fit after a six-month layoff to help his wife Jane overcome breast cancer.

"The body feels good, just running in to bowl, so that was very good to get onto the outdoor nets," he said.