Glenn McGrath has finally given Australia some good news by declaring himself fit and ready to lead the bowling attack in Thursday's Ashes decider at The Oval.

A day after the tourists' back-up bowlers were hammered for 502 by second-tier county Essex, McGrath said he had recovered from the right elbow injury which kept him out of the fourth Test.

"It's back to business as usual for the fifth Test," McGrath told Britain's The Mail on Sunday, with whom he has a contract.

"I've made a full recovery and will definitely play at The Oval.

"It has been frustrating sitting out two of the first four Tests (with ankle then elbow injuries). But now I can get at the England batsmen in the decider."

But Australian officials would not declare the No.1 paceman ready to resume, and a team spokesman said a decision on his fitness was yet to be made.

McGrath is expected to take another step in his recovery with a short bowling session away from the Essex match.

McGrath's place in the fifth Test will affect the make-up of the rest of the bowling attack Australia deploys in the must-win match, as none of the other specialists commanded a place in the side after a shocking day in the field against Essex.

Even with Shane Warne also resting, five Australian bowlers took one Essex wicket between them in the first two-and-a-half sessions before the second division county finished on 4-502.

The batsmen to inflict most of the humiliation were 20-year-old guns Alastair Cook and Ravinder Bopara, who shared an epic 270-run stand for the second wicket.

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