McGrath awarded benefit

Anthony McGrath has enjoyed a successful career with Yorkshire and England

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Anthony McGrath has been awarded a benefit season by Yorkshire in 2009.

The 32-year-old, a product of the county’s youth system, made his debut as a 19-year-old in 1995 and won his county cap in 1999.

One of the key members of the Yorkshire top order for more than a decade, McGrath played four Tests for England in 2003. He also made 14 one-day international appearances.

He captained Yorkshire in 2003 but relinquished the responsibility in 2004 when England call-ups threatened to restrict his county appearances.

“It is a great honour to be awarded a benefit season,” he said. "To play at a club like this for fifteen-years, to be capped and now to get a benefit is fantastic.

"I grew up watching all of the famous capped Yorkshire players on television and I played with a lot of famous players when I started at the club, so to get a benefit now myself, and follow in their footsteps, is a really great feeling.”

McGrath has scored 24 hundreds in amassing 10,260 runs from 172 championship appearances for the county, and had also chipped in with 102 wickets.

Yorkshire chief executive Stewart Regan said: “Anthony has been an outstanding servant to the club and fully deserves to be recognised with a benefit season next year.

"He is a tremendous player and popular with members, supporters and his fellow professionals, and I wish him every success in his benefit season, which I am sure will be extremely well supported."