Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath has ruled himself out of next month's Test series in South Africa.

McGrath told the Australian selectors he wanted to stay in Australia to be with his family while his wife undergoes treatment for cancer.

Cricket Australia released a statement saying they fully supported McGrath's decision. The Test squad to tour South Africa will be announced next week.

McGrath, 36, pulled out of Australia's triangular one-day series at home last month as well as the limited-overs series in South Africa after revealing his wife had been diagnosed with cancer and needed immediate radiotherapy treatment.

McGrath's English-born wife Jane has twice been diagnosed with cancer before. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997 then bone cancer in 2003 but made a full recovery on both occasions.