Brisbane: Glenn McGrath claimed another milestone in his distinguished cricket career by reaching 100 Ashes Test wickets after starring again for Australia in the first Test against England here on Saturday.

McGrath claimed four for 87 as the Australians bowled out England for 325 to claim a 167-run first innings lead and a stranglehold on the match.

McGrath has now taken 407 career Test wickets and was instrumental in England being virtually shut out of the Test. But McGrath said his new-ball bowling partner Jason Gillespie deserved a much of the credit for his wickets on Saturday.

"He's definitely up there," McGrath said when asked where Gillespie ranked among the world's bowlers.

"I think he's probably been the pick of our bowlers for quite some time without the success. I think taking wickets will be something that he'll learn how to do.

"But if he keeps going as well as he has been he'll take plenty of wickets, so it's good for the future of Australian cricket."

McGrath said Gillespie was sometimes a more dangerous bowler than himself because of his pace and bounce.

"Dizzy (Gillespie) I think he helps me quite a bit. He's been bowling well for quite some time now. He's got good pace, good bounce and very good control and I thought he bowled exceptionally well today," he said.

"He probably got me a couple of wickets at the other end. I didn't bowl that well today I got a few in the right area and I think the pressure that Dizzy built up probably helped.

"I think Jason was going to bowl one way or the other today and I was hoping he'd push through it," McGrath said.

"Jason said it did feel a bit tight today but didn't get any worse so that's a good sign for him and the way he bowled today was as if he was 100 per cent fit."

Extras:
Australia on course to big lead, pressure on England
Paceman Silverwood to replace injured Jones for Ashes