Australia takes on India in the fourth Test at the SCG from Thursday but McGrath wants women attending the cricket to focus on their own health for a few minutes at least.

"There are plenty of stories where women watching the Test, they have sort of checked themselves or noticed something not quite normal, and gone and got themselves checked out and found out they had breast cancer but it was still in the early stages," the former paceman told AAP.

McGrath said women - and men too - should "get to know your bodies and if you do see a change or think there's something there go and get it checked out".

His wife Jane's battle with breast and bone cancer led to the formation of the McGrath Foundation. Jane died in 2008 aged 42.

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The next generation of the foundation could include the couple's teenage children - Holly and James - and his daughter Madison with second wife Sara Leonardi-McGrath.

"You never know, there's that opportunity to play some sort of role moving forward. They're always involved in the Sydney Test every year; it's something that they're proud of and I think it's a great legacy that their mum has left for them too," McGrath said.

The McGrath Foundation hopes to raise more than $2 million this year towards breast care nurses. There are McGrath nurses at Bendigo Hospital and St John of God, also in Bendigo.

Research from the foundation shows there will be a shortfall of more than 100 of the specialist nurses in 2019.

Players and fans wear pink during the Sydney Test each year to show support for those experiencing breast cancer and to raise funds for the McGrath Foundation.

Australian Associated Press

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