--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always wondered if I would know the…" description: "\"I always wondered if I would know the right time to retire. After that first Ashes Test in Brisbane in 2006 I had no intention of stopping. I was still..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32e/glenn-mcgrath-7662_cricket_i-always-wondered-if-i-would-know-the-ri_84984.png" --- # I always wondered if I would know the right time to… ![“I always wondered if I would know the right time to retire. After that first Ashes Test in Brisbane in 2006 I had no intention of stopping. I was still focused and wanted a thousand international wickets. I was still driven.” quote by Glenn McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32e/glenn-mcgrath-7662_cricket_i-always-wondered-if-i-would-know-the-ri_84984.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32e/glenn-mcgrath-7662_cricket_i-always-wondered-if-i-would-know-the-ri_84984.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32e/glenn-mcgrath-7662_cricket_i-always-wondered-if-i-would-know-the-ri_84984.png) > “I always wondered if I would know the right time to retire. After that first Ashes Test in Brisbane in 2006 I had no intention of stopping. I was still focused and wanted a thousand international wickets. I was still driven.” [Glenn McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-mcgrath/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A seasoned athlete reflects on the tension between aging and ambition, choosing to pursue a personal milestone rather than conventional retirement. **In simple terms:** Persistence over age Key Takeaway Goal‑driven longevity Themes determination career longevity athletic ambition age and performance personal milestones Mood focused driven reflective Type personal anecdote motivational statement When to use this quote - post‑peak athletes considering retirement - players aiming for statistical records - sports professionals facing age‑related decisions Key Concepts goal setting motivation self‑discipline career planning Practical Applications - coaching athletes on long‑term goal setting - designing retirement transition programs Questions to Reflect On - What internal drivers sustain performance beyond typical retirement age? - How can athletes balance personal records with team needs? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ashes Test](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashes-test-1071383/) [Cricket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cricket/) [Intention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intention/) [International Wickets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/international-wickets-1071384/) [Retire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retire/) [Retire Ashes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retire-ashes-1071382/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [Right time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-time/) [Test](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/test/) [Thousand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thousand/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time Retire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-retire-674510/) ## Related quotes > [There is something special about the early stages of an Ashes Test. There is this unique buzz.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-anderson/there-is-something-special-about-the-early-stages-of-an-ashes-test/) [James Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-anderson/) > [Once I started to retire, I was telling all of the girls in my generation, 'Wow I feel like an outsider in this locker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-kim/once-i-started-to-retire-i-was-telling-all-of-the-girls-in-my/) [Gail Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-kim/) > [We'll know when our skating career is over by how we've progressed over the years and if we think we've got to a place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-moir/we-ll-know-when-our-skating-career-is-over-by-how-we-ve-progressed/) [Scott Moir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-moir/) > [“I want to do something for a living that when it comes time to retire and I can stop doing it, I’ll want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-want-to-do-something-for-a-living-that-when-it-comes-time-to-retire/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [When the butterflies in my stomach, when those leave, then I know it's probably time to retire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-kershaw/when-the-butterflies-in-my-stomach-when-those-leave-then-i-know-it-s/) [Clayton Kershaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-kershaw/) > [I still think funny, and people young and old still come and see me. That's flattering. The day comes that they stop coming, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-still-think-funny-and-people-young-and-old-still-come-and-see-me/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [I think the minute you're full up and have had enough to eat, then that's time to retire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/i-think-the-minute-you-re-full-up-and-have-had-enough-to-eat-then/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [Every job is different. I don't think that I've ever had that wonderful feeling when you've finished a job or where you feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-molina/every-job-is-different-i-don-t-think-that-i-ve-ever-had-that/) [Alfred Molina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-molina/) > [Two weeks is about the ideal length of time to retire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-comfort/two-weeks-is-about-the-ideal-length-of-time-to-retire/) [Alex Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-comfort/) > [I knew it was my time to retire, when I saw Messi running past me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-beckham/i-knew-it-was-my-time-to-retire-when-i-saw-messi-running-past-me/) [David Beckham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-beckham/) > [Just when you arrive at the apex of your skills, it's time to retire. But as it turned out, I decided that since it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/just-when-you-arrive-at-the-apex-of-your-skills-it-s-time-to-retire/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [Get picked for an Ashes Test at Lord's and you know you're going to meet the Queen. She arrived before the start of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonny-bairstow/get-picked-for-an-ashes-test-at-lord-s-and-you-know-you-re-going-to/) [Jonny Bairstow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonny-bairstow/) > [While it was entertaining to develop content through the Dr. DisRespect character, it's time for him to retire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-disrespect/while-it-was-entertaining-to-develop-content-through-the-dr/) [Dr. Disrespect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-disrespect/) > [I have always gone with the story which I liked at that point of time and when I retire my filmography will be interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anubhav-sinha/i-have-always-gone-with-the-story-which-i-liked-at-that-point-of-time/) [Anubhav Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anubhav-sinha/) > [The time you are happy to sit on the bench, is the time you should retire in my opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adebayo-akinfenwa/the-time-you-are-happy-to-sit-on-the-bench-is-the-time-you-should/) [Adebayo Akinfenwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adebayo-akinfenwa/) ## More by Glenn McGrath > [I had always had the same pre-match routine that I went through every day - get up, go down for a swim and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-mcgrath/i-had-always-had-the-same-pre-match-routine-that-i-went-through-every/) [Glenn McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-mcgrath/) > [An Australian prime minister once said that his job was the second most important job in the country - behind being captain of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-mcgrath/an-australian-prime-minister-once-said-that-his-job-was-the-second/) [Glenn McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-mcgrath/) > [If you've got one bowler - particularly a fast bowler - who is really aggressive, all over the opposition, he brings the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-mcgrath/if-you-ve-got-one-bowler-particularly-a-fast-bowler-who-is-really/) [Glenn McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-mcgrath/) > [I'd prefer to do the safari on foot, like they did in the old days and just take the camp with you, not driving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-mcgrath/i-d-prefer-to-do-the-safari-on-foot-like-they-did-in-the-old-days-and/) [Glenn McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-mcgrath/) > [My experience with Australia in the 1997 Ashes series taught me that fighting back is a combination of technique and mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-mcgrath/my-experience-with-australia-in-the-1997-ashes-series-taught-me-that/) [Glenn McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-mcgrath/) > [You can't go on living in past and having regrets. Its better people have a positive influence on other people's lives than worry about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-mcgrath/you-can-t-go-on-living-in-past-and-having-regrets-its-better-people/) [Glenn McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-mcgrath/) > [I loved playing at Lord's - I ended up with 26 wickets at 11.50 from three Tests there. Maybe the wicket, because of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-mcgrath/i-loved-playing-at-lord-s-i-ended-up-with-26-wickets-at-11-50-from/) [Glenn McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-mcgrath/) > [What's the difference between a good player and a great player? A good player plays well in his own conditions - a great player…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-mcgrath/what-s-the-difference-between-a-good-player-and-a-great-player-a-good/) [Glenn McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-mcgrath/) > [The best thing about Lord's isn't the slope, it's just being there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-mcgrath/the-best-thing-about-lord-s-isn-t-the-slope-it-s-just-being-there/) [Glenn McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-mcgrath/) > [You still have to enjoy the tour games. If you go out there and just go through the motions, you can easily get into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-mcgrath/you-still-have-to-enjoy-the-tour-games-if-you-go-out-there-and-just/) [Glenn McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-mcgrath/) > [You expect to cop a bit wherever you go. In the past there hasn't been any racism or any racist comments that I've seen.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-mcgrath/you-expect-to-cop-a-bit-wherever-you-go-in-the-past-there-hasn-t-been/) [Glenn McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-mcgrath/) > [If you continually watch yourself do something well, it has a positive effect. If you sat down and watched yourself bowling, batting or fielding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-mcgrath/if-you-continually-watch-yourself-do-something-well-it-has-a-positive/) [Glenn McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-mcgrath/) > [My strength was probably more the mental side of the game rather than the skill side. I always had that self-belief that I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-mcgrath/my-strength-was-probably-more-the-mental-side-of-the-game-rather-than/) [Glenn McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-mcgrath/) > [When I played in the Australia team the captains were all nerds. Allan Border was a nerd, Mark Taylor was a nerd, Steve Waugh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-mcgrath/when-i-played-in-the-australia-team-the-captains-were-all-nerds-allan/) [Glenn McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-mcgrath/) > [Since retirement, I have been given the opportunity to spend time with my family. I have three children, aged 16, 14 and one. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-mcgrath/since-retirement-i-have-been-given-the-opportunity-to-spend-time-with/) [Glenn McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-mcgrath/) [Explore all 89 Glenn McGrath quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-mcgrath/) ## More Cricket quotes > [I think cricket is there in Usain Bolt's blood. Since I got to watch from close quarters, it was amazing to see him run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh/i-think-cricket-is-there-in-usain-bolt-s-blood-since-i-got-to-watch/) [Harbhajan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh/) > [In summer, my Sundays are often taken up with cricket. I play with a bunch of other over-competitive and overenthusiastic guys who I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-elliot/in-summer-my-sundays-are-often-taken-up-with-cricket-i-play-with-a/) [Ben Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-elliot/) > [The way you get wickets is, you've got to build pressure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-arthur/the-way-you-get-wickets-is-you-ve-got-to-build-pressure/) [Mickey Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-arthur/) > [Runs are important, don't get me wrong, but it will be wickets that I will be judged on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moeen-ali/runs-are-important-don-t-get-me-wrong-but-it-will-be-wickets-that-i/) [Moeen Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moeen-ali/) > [Cricket, politics, and cinema is what a majority in our country are most passionate about. They have the power to divide the best of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-deverakonda/cricket-politics-and-cinema-is-what-a-majority-in-our-country-are/) [Vijay Deverakonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-deverakonda/) > [I used to stay near Hazra Law College and play a lot of street cricket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyanshu-chatterjee/i-used-to-stay-near-hazra-law-college-and-play-a-lot-of-street-cricket/) [Priyanshu Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyanshu-chatterjee/) > [Being at the top of the ICC rankings is a matter of great pride for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasprit-bumrah/being-at-the-top-of-the-icc-rankings-is-a-matter-of-great-pride-for-me/) [Jasprit Bumrah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasprit-bumrah/) > [If you want to to be a smart cricketer, you have to play according to the situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hardik-pandya/if-you-want-to-to-be-a-smart-cricketer-you-have-to-play-according-to/) [Hardik Pandya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hardik-pandya/) > [There is no reason why one should believe you should leave out politicians in cricket or any sport for that matter. 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It's around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prithvi-shaw/i-began-playing-at-the-age-of-six-but-at-that-point-i-had-little-idea/) [Prithvi Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prithvi-shaw/) > [We West Indian cricketers are always proud to play for the West Indies and we know we are made up of different islands and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-lara/we-west-indian-cricketers-are-always-proud-to-play-for-the-west/) [Brian Lara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-lara/) > [We are a country obsessed by records. For us, hundreds, ten thousand runs, and large haul of wickets are more important than the performance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-shastri/we-are-a-country-obsessed-by-records-for-us-hundreds-ten-thousand/) [Ravi Shastri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-shastri/) > [You always can improve and I think that's the beauty of international cricket, particularly test cricket, is playing all around the world against different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kane-williamson/you-always-can-improve-and-i-think-that-s-the-beauty-of-international/) [Kane Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kane-williamson/) > [“The crickets felt it was their duty to warn everybody that summertime cannot last for ever. Even on the most beautiful days in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-crickets-felt-it-was-their-duty-to-warn-everybody-that-summertime/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 3,044 Cricket quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cricket/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I always wondered if I would know the right time to retire. After that first Ashes Test in Brisbane in 2006 I had no intention of stopping. I was still focused and wanted a thousand international wickets. 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