Yorkshire appoint ex-captain McGrath as head coach

Yorkshire have appointed former captain Anthony McGrath as their new head coach on a five-year deal.

McGrath leaves Essex after nine seasons as assistant coach, head coach and, more recently, director of cricket.

He is returning to Headingley where he spent his entire playing career, winning the County Championship in 2001 and playing for England in four Tests and 14 One-Day Internationals.

McGrath takes over from Ottis Gibson, who guided the White Rose to promotion back into County Championship Division One last month.

He will officially take up his new position on 1 November.

"During the past nine years with Essex, Anthony has proved himself to be one of the most exciting and successful coaches in English cricket," said Yorkshire's interim chief executive officer, Sanjay Patel.

"He is renowned for his team's attractive, attacking cricket, supporting and developing world-class talent, and commitment to youth."

Former all-rounder McGrath, 49, played 242 first-class matches for Yorkshire and captained the side between 2008 and 2009.

As a middle-order batter, he was a key member of the side that ended the White Rose's 33-year wait to be crowned county champions again in 2001.

After retiring in 2012, he went on to become a coaching consultant for Yorkshire, but it is his work at Essex since then that has won him so many plaudits.

"I know the history of this great club and the passion of the members and supporters - and I am absolutely determined to develop a team capable of delivering the success they deserve," McGrath said, of his Yorkshire return.

Before taking up his new position, McGrath spoke to BBC Essex to reflect on his time at the club, which began in 2016 when he became assistant head coach to former Yorkshire colleague Chris Silverwood.

Together they led Essex to promotion from Division Two in 2016 and then to the Championship title the following summer, the county's first red-ball top-flight triumph for 25 years.

But when Silverwood left to become England's bowling coach, McGrath took on the top job at Chelmsford.

During his tenure, Essex established themselves as one of Division One's strongest teams, never finishing lower than fourth in a regular Championship season.

The undoubted highlight came in 2019 when they won both the Championship and the T20 Blast, the first county to achieve that feat - and in the space of seven days.

"That season, but that week in particular, was incredible," McGrath said.

And to back that up, Essex were victorious in the Bob Willis Trophy, the competition introduced during the Covid summer, in 2020.

Surrey have been top dogs in England in the past three years, winning the Championship, but Essex have become a fixture high up the table.

McGrath may not be around any more, but he is confident the club, led by captain Tom Westley, is well placed to carry on competing against the best.

"The senior players are still going strong and we've seen the emergence of some younger players this year," he said.

"The squad just needs a little bit more depth but everyone is aware of that.

"But there are a lot of good things to look forward to for Essex. Ten years ago, if you had said you'd be disappointed to finish fourth, it's testament to where we've come.

"Expectations are high here and they expect to win trophies every year. That's a great place to be as a club."