Statue just for Pigeon

McGrath, whose nickname is Pigeon, went to public and high schools in Narromine and played his early cricket there until he was lured to Sydney.

Narromine Council commissioned Brett Garling, who has a studio in the village of Wongarbon, near Dubbo, to create the statue.

Narromine Mayor Dawn Collins, who campaigned for months to raise the money for the McGrath statue (pictured), said it would be unveiled in Narromine's Tom Perry Park on Saturday, June 6.

"The project is valued at more than $70,000 but [it] was able to get under way after I secured a commitment of $29,000," she said.

"We also had a generous donation from the sculptor so no ratepayers' money will be spent."

McGrath retired from international cricket in April 2007 at the peak of his career after being named man of the tournament at the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies and playing a key role in the 5-0 Ashes drubbing of England.

With Dennis Lillee he is recognised as Australia's finest ever seam bowler, playing in 258 Tests and 113 one-day internationals.

He came out of retirement to play in the cash-rich Twenty20 Indian Premier League.

Last year the federal and state governments rejected requests from Narromine to help pay for the statue, along with Cricket Australia and Cricket NSW.