As Glenn McGrath, nicknamed 'Pigeon', bids the game goodbye, Australia has a 'Little Pigeon' in young fast bowling prospect Mitchell Johnson, who is ready to fill his shoes, chiefly as a prankster.
McGrath, the world's most successful pacer who will quit after the World Cup in April, has a reputation among his teammates as a serial pest due to his love of practical jokes and dressing room tomfoolery.
Often annoying, McGrath's antics have also lightened some tense moments in the Australian dressing room and 25-year-old Johnson has been studying the master at work.
"He jokes around a lot and it's something I've started to do -- they are already calling me 'Little Pigeon'," Johnson was quoted as saying by the 'Herald Sun'.
"Now I've got a bit of confidence around the players I'm really hamming it up. People say Pigeon is a pest but I've always found him really funny," he said.
Touted as Australia's next pace star, Johnson is also likely to be drafted into the Test side after McGrath's retirement.
{{/usCountry}}Touted as Australia's next pace star, Johnson is also likely to be drafted into the Test side after McGrath's retirement.
{{/usCountry}}"I haven't really thought too much about all the talk of Pigeon's retirement but I suppose it does get me one step closer to playing Test cricket for Australia in the long term. But I'm not counting my chickens yet," he said.
Johnson's whippy left-arm action has already brought him 14 wickets at 25.78 in one-day internationals.