Moxon expecting McGrath to recapture form

Anthony McGrath may have decided that it was time to stand down as captain, but could the decision benefit Yorkshire and, indeed, the player in more ways than one? Chris Waters reports.

WHEN Anthony McGrath stood down as Yorkshire captain he cited a lack of runs as the reason for his departure.

McGrath scored 871 first-class runs last summer at 33.50, his worst season statistically since 2002.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But Martyn Moxon believes there could be an added benefit of McGrath's decision.

Yorkshire's director of professional cricket insists McGrath can once again become the life and soul of the Yorkshire dressing room now he is unburdened by the stresses and strains of the leadership.

McGrath, 34, has always been one of the most popular members of the Yorkshire side.

The former England all-rounder is well-known for his humour and practical jokes and is rumoured to be the infamous "snipper" who has long stalked the dressing rooms at Headingley Carnegie, cutting up socks when the fancy takes him.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Although no-one will relish the return of holes in their footwear on a random basis, Moxon believes the overall camaraderie of the dressing room will be enhanced by McGrath's return to the ranks.

The player naturally had to curb such bonhomie when in charge of the team as Yorkshire endured a disappointing campaign, only avoiding County Championship relegation by the skin of their teeth.

"The reason Anthony decided to stand down as captain was because he didn't want to risk failing with the bat again next summer," said Moxon. "By his own high standards he had a disappointing 2009 and he doesn't want the same thing to happen in 2010.

"Not only do we need Anthony's runs, we also need a smiling Anthony McGrath around the place.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"He's a great character to have around the dressing room and that was obviously stifled a bit when he was leading the team.

"That's not to say Anthony was moping around or anything like that – he still had plenty of laughs and jokes with the players.

"It's just that when you're the captain you have to behave a bit differently and you can't really be the life and soul to such an extent.

"Darren Gough had to curb his enthusiasm in that respect a little bit when he was captain in 2007 and 2008, and I think the team missed a little bit of what Mags is able to bring to the dressing room."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

McGrath's run-scoring graph is on a downward curve – after 1,000 run-plus seasons in 2005 and 2006 he averaged 46.55 in 2007 and 34.65 in 2008 before last year's average dipped even further.

But Moxon believes the runs will return.

"I think we'll see a different Anthony McGrath next year," said Moxon. "Now he can concentrate totally on his game I think the runs and confidence will start to come back.

"Anthony showed what a class act he is at the beginning of last season when he scored a superb double hundred against Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

"He's 34 years old but far from over the hill, and I still think he could have a good few years in the county game."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Moxon admitted the captaincy affected McGrath. "It got to him a bit," he said. "It affected his form and he wasn't able to contribute the runs he wanted to contribute. All things considered, though, I thought he did a pretty good job as captain.

"He had some difficult circumstances to contend with at the start of the season, with people in-and-out of the side and that sort of thing, and he didn't have the benefit of a settled team."

Moxon believes new captain Andrew Gale will prove a more-than-capable successor to McGrath.

"Galey is very strong in what he wants and how he wants the team to play, and he's developed strongly as a person over the last couple of years," added Moxon.

"It will be a challenge for him but he'll have a lot of good people around him and I very much see him as a long-term appoint-ment."