McGrath - 542 wickets in 119 Tests

McGrath, who has been out since January to help his wife fight cancer, demonstrated his fitness to national coach John Buchanan on Wednesday.

"Whenever we've played in India leading into a season, I have always come back and bowled really well straight away.

"For fast bowlers India is the ultimate still. It's a great place to prepare; that's my first choice," he said.

McGrath, third on the all-time list with 542 Test wickets, is likely to combine appearances in the October one-day tournament with first-class games for state side New South Wales.

"There's a whole range of options for him," said Buchanan.

Since the Ashes I have been disappointed with England Glenn McGrath

"There's no exact science to it, but I think we'll get a program that will have him ready for the first day of the first Ashes Test on 23 November."

McGrath said he would have no problem lining up in Australia with England skipper Andrew Flintoff, who could play Aussie club cricket to recover from ankle surgery before the Ashes.

"I went over to England and played county cricket for Middlesex when I was coming back from the ankle - it works both ways," he argued.

McGrath said he expected England to be competitive in the Ashes despite their mixed recent form.

"Since the Ashes I have been disappointed with them," McGrath said.

"I thought they would have come out and beaten everyone home and away and I don't think they have actually won a series since then.