McGrath handed second chance

Anthony McGrath is keen to pick up from where Darren Gough left off this past year

Anthony McGrath admitted he has some “unfinished business” after returning to the Yorkshire helm five years since he gave up the captaincy.

The 33-year-old was today reinstated in the top job, having been vice-captain to both Craig White and Darren Gough in the interim period.

He gave up the captaincy at the end of 2003, when international cricket came calling, but has regularly maintained that he wanted to be given another chance.

“Having done the job before, albeit for a short time in 2003, I’ve always said that I wanted to do it again,” he confirmed.

“I felt a little bit of relief, I suppose, because I have a bit of unfinished business from the last time I did it.

“This gives me the opportunity to have a winter planning, along with the rest of the coaching staff, and try to make a good assault on the captaincy and the campaign next season.”

Playing under White and Gough, both also former England players, McGrath says he has learnt a lot and will be looking to take as much of that as possible into his own captaincy.

“Obviously when I did it before I was a lot younger, probably a little bit wet behind the ears in some ways.” he said. “But I have picked up a few things that perhaps I didn’t implement last time.

“Darren was someone who was very self-confident and had that little aura around him from what he has done in the game. But, when something needed to be said, he did that and got his point across.

“I’d like to think that I can take up the role which he started over the last two years and put my own style on it myself.”

However, McGrath knows that he is only one member of what is a squad of players surrounded by people who are willing to give them help and support.

“I think it is not just about the captain, really. It is more the relationship with Martyn (Moxon) and the board and about working together and getting a common ground,” he said.

Martyn Moxon will be on hand to give McGrath advice and support during his time as captain

“Everyone wants to bring silverware to the club and next year we will be no different. It is just getting those processes in place.”

McGrath will be assisted by Jacques Rudolph who has been promoted to be his vice-captain, and he is looking forward to working alongside someone he spends most of his time in the field alongside in the slips.

“Jacques has been a great help to Darren and I expect that to continue,” he said. “He is very knowledgable about the game and is always coming up with ideas.

“I am sure he will take on a more official role now that he is vice-captain, but he is very helpful with our younger players.

“I am just glad we have him in our team. He is a font of knowledge and I am delighted he is my vice-captain.”

Moxon revealed it had been an easy decision to make to appoint McGrath and Rudolph as his captaincy duo and that it should pay dividends for Yorkshire next season.

“I think we have all seen that the times Anthony has done the job this year he has done a fantastic job,” he said. “He has shown extreme tactical knowledge as well as the excellent way he has handled the players.

“It was a pretty easy decision for me to go to the board and recommend Anthony to be captain and also to name Jacques as vice-captain, and the board unanimously agreed.

“I believe we have a very strong team there, so we look forward to 2009 with great optimism.”