Indies he was one of the question marks on the Australian squad. But after a superb series all the question marks vanished.

He is, indeed, the genuine article.

The lean and lanky, right-arm fast bowler proved a thorn in the side of the Windies batsman for much of the triumphant tour, especially during the first Test -- won by Australia -- when he bagged a career best eight-for-114 and was named man of the match.

However, while the series was a `coming out party' for McGrath, the six-foot, four-inch New South Wales product yesterday said that there was never any doubt in his mind about his ability to perform at the highest level.

"I knew all season that I was right on the verge of bowling well and everything came together for me there,'' said the 25-year-old, under the lower terrace at Elbow Beach yesterday. "After Barbados when I took the first five (wicket haul) and I bowled pretty well things just fell into place.

"I started to hit the crease harder and the ball was coming up pretty well, I just felt really relaxed and comfortable.

"I'd like to think I'm a bowler to be reckoned with at any time, but hopefully I can build from here. I want to play Test cricket as long as I can, take as many wickets as I can and, I guess, enjoy it as long as I can. And if I can do those three things then I'll be very happy.'' Lighting a fire under McGrath and the rest of the attack was the unfortunate loss of premier strike bowler Craig McDermott, felled by an ankle injury before the first Test.

It was expected that McDermott's loss would severely hamper the Aussie pace attack, but not only did they overcome his departure, they thrived in spite of it.

"We lost McDermott quite early, before the Test series, so that put extra pressure on the guys,'' said McGrath, who went on to claim six-for-47 during the first innings of the third Test in Trinidad and ended with 16 wickets overall at an average cost of 21.31.

"They knew that it was left up to us and we had to give everything, but the guys pulled through, everyone lifted their bit and I think we played very well as a team.'' There is no doubt about the grit and guts of the Aussies after a history-making venture to the Caribbean that saw them snap the Windies' 15-year stranglehold on the title of world champions.

And the achievement was not lost on McGrath, who would have been barely a toddler the last time his country enjoyed the fruits of victory against the once all-powerful West Indies 22 years ago.

"I think it was a great tour for us,'' he said. "We went into the Test series thinking that we had a pretty good chance because we'd been playing good cricket throughout the year and we just went out there to give 100 percent, bowled fairly well and we batted sort of well in stages and then in the last Test very well.

"I guess the main thing as well was that we held all our catches, that was very important in winning the series.

"Definitely it was a great series for catches, the majority of those might have gone down in other series, so I think that that was what made it such a low scoring series in general.'' Many off those spooned chances came off the bowling of McGrath, but what drives this young man is not the money, fame or other fringe benefits that come with being a world class athlete.

"I guess playing for your country ...I think that's enough drive in itself. Plus I want to succeed, I want to do well, that's how it goes.'' McGrath also explained the feeling of being world champions as a great one and was hopeful of being able to aid in the maintenance of that richly-earned status.

Word around the hotel was that the Australians will be putting their position on the line when they tackle Bermuda and that they would not be taking the locals lightly.

"You never like losing games no matter how important they are,'' said McGrath, taking another sip from his glass of fruit punch. "I think there'll be good games, we're not coming over here just to take it easy and not care about the games.

"We're going to try in all he games, enjoy ourselves and hopefully the other team will enjoy playing against us, so I guess that's the main thing.'' "The guys are here to have a relaxing time, not to take things too seriously, but on the other hand we're not going to take it too easy.''