26 July,2010 08:31 AM IST | | A Correspondent
Two years ago, Glenn McGrath swallowed the bitter pill and started living his life as a widower. His wife Jane succumbed to a 11-year battle against breast cancer. Glenn McGrath and his son James and Holly after the funeral of Jane McGrath in Sydney on June 25, 2008
Today, he is not as sad and heartbroken as he was then. And there's good reason for that. A new woman has come into his life and the other good news is that she just adores his kids - James (10) and Holly (eight)
Yesterday, Australia's fast bowling legend, who claimed 563 wickets in 124 Tests, told The Sun Herald that he was engaged to American-Italian Sara Leonardi (28). They met at a party in Cape Town in April, 2009.
"We are engaged and we're really happy," McGrath told the newspaper.
Kasper's delighted
Former Test cricketer Michael Kasprowicz and McGrath's fast bowling colleague in the Australian team was quoted by the paper as saying, "I wish him well. He's a good mate, the nicest bloke going, and he deserves all the happiness in the world."
McGrath and Sara had earlier revealed their love affair in an Australian Women's Weekly interview in March, for which they were reportedly paid 200,000 Australian dollars. Meanwhile, McGrath has devoted most of his time to his kids and the cancer foundation in honour of his wife. He has raised plenty of funds through cricket
matches in Sydney too.
"I think marriage is definitely in our future ufffd I see Sara as my partner for the rest of my life,"' he said during the interview. "I never thought I would fall in love with anyone else but I am in love with Sara, totally and completely and absolutely. I fought against that for a time, fought as hard as I could, but in the end it was
useless.
She loves kids
"When Jane died, it felt as though a part of me died, too. But now I feel alive again and that's due to Sara. I went into this not just to see how things would go. I wanted this. This is the rest of my life."
McGrath also hoped Sara would be pregnant soon. "'I absolutely love Glenn's kids," she said.
They have been seen at the races and at fashion shows. Yesterday, they enjoyed a lunch at a bakery close to their home before shopping at a bike store.
Apart from McGrath and his kids, Sara loves designer handbags and thigh-high leather boots.
Despite bowing out of international cricket in 2007, McGrath featured in two editions of the Indian Premier League.
However, his appearances for the Delhi Daredevils were limited.
In an illustrious international career, McGrath played in four World Cups for Australia and ended up being part of a victorious outfit thrice ufffd in the 1999, 2003 and 2007 editions.
