Yorkshire’s McGrath wants new contract at Headingley

The 36-year-old all-rounder, who has represented Yorkshire since 1995, will be out of contract at the end of the summer.

But rather than contemplate calling it a day, McGrath wants to keep serving his beloved White Rose.

“I’m not even thinking of retiring at the moment,” said McGrath, who has played 250 first-class games in a distinguished career.

“I’m contracted until the end of the season and I’m still enjoying every minute of playing.

“It’s difficult to kind of put a figure on it, but I see myself playing for another couple of years yet at least.

“I don’t know what the club’s position will be and we haven’t chatted about it yet, but I guess at some point over the next couple of months we will have a chat and it depends which way they want to go really.”

McGrath, who plays match No 251 against Glamorgan at Colwyn Bay, starting today, has done his prospects of winning a new deal no harm of late.

The former England man has performed well with bat and ball, responding to the threat going into the season that he could lose his place.

McGrath had a disappointing 2011, managing only 485 Championship runs at 21.08.

With such as Adam Lyth unable to get into the side at the start of the year, a fate that has now befallen Joe Sayers, whom Lyth has replaced, McGrath well knew he had to deliver.

He has done just that in an unfamiliar role.

Because of Yorkshire’s batting strength, and because of an injury suffered to all-rounder Rich Pyrah in the opening Championship match against Kent, McGrath has generally batted No 7 in a Pyrah-type role.

McGrath started the season batting at No 3 only to register a golden duck in the game against Kent.

He picked up seven wickets against the students of Leeds-Bradford before scoring 90 from the No 7 position against Leicestershire at Scarborough.

McGrath batted No 6 in the Championship fixtures at Gloucestershire and at home to Hampshire, scoring an unbeaten 106 in the latter, before reverting to No 7 for the last Championship match at home to Northamptonshire, when he made 47.

“I’ve had a bit of a different role this year,” he said.

“It’s been unexpected really but I’m just happy to be in the side and playing for Yorkshire.

“There’s still a chance to get in there at No 7 and make a few runs, while I’ve been bowling more overs than I’ve been used to in recent years.

“But, as I say, I’m just enjoying it because I’ve managed to score a few runs and also, when you’re bowling, you’re always in the game.”

Judging by the law of averages, McGrath is due a good season this time around.

His disappointing summer last year followed a fine campaign in 2010, when he made 1,219 first-class runs at 43.53, which followed another disappointing one in 2009, when he scored 871 runs at 33.50.

“It seems I’ve had one good season followed by a disappointing one in recent years,” he added.

“I know that 2009 was difficult towards the end when I was captain of the side, then I had a good 2010 followed by an injury-ravaged campaign in 2011.

“I had quite a few niggles last year but this time I’ve had a good winter of training and hit the ground running.

“I feel good at the moment but I know I’ve got to keep working hard.”

Yorkshire go into today’s match second in the table, 28 points behind leaders Derbyshire with a game in hand.

McGrath believes they are steadily starting to find their stride.

“I think our Championship form has been pleasing overall,” he said.

“We all know we had a really tough year last year, and the first couple of games this year we couldn’t manage to get a win, but, since then, we’ve played some really good cricket.

“We’ve had a few injuries and obviously Ajmal Shahzad has left the club, but everyone seems to be hitting form.

“It’s been tough because we’ve had a lot of weather interruptions, but once we get into a rhythm in the summer in the nicer weather and drier conditions, I’m sure that we can do even better.”

Yorkshire have made two changes to the squad that saw service against Northamptonshire.

Gerard Brophy replaces Jonny Bairstow, who is on Test duty, while leg-spinner Adil Rashid is preferred to Pyrah.

Yorkshire will be hoping for more play than on their last visit to Colwyn Bay in 2004.

Only 51 overs were possible as Yorkshire scored 158-5, Pyrah making an unbeaten 25 on his first-class debut and withstanding some hostile bowling from Simon Jones.

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