McGrath full of confidence for new year (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Injury concerns behind him as Anthony McGrath plans Yorkshire revival

5:40pm Tuesday 20th December 2011 in Yorkshire By Graham Hardcastle

Bradfordian Anthony McGrath is one man who will be glad to see the back of 2011 after a year to forget with Yorkshire.

The former England batsman’s summer was blighted by injury problems and lack of form, only scoring 485 runs in 12 LV= County Championship matches and posting just one hundred and one fifty.

But with nagging back and knee complaints seemingly behind him, McGrath heads into the new year full of confidence that he can play a major part in Jason Gillespie’s Headingley revolution.

Yet he is under no illusions that even getting in the team is a certainty.

“As we’ve talked about before, it was a nightmare year, but things are going well at the moment,” said McGrath.

“I’m just looking forward to getting underway. I’m firstly going to try and get into the team and then score some runs.

It was good to catch up with him (Jason Gillespie). It was like he’d never been away after an hour or two

Anthony McGrath

“It would have been better if last year didn’t happen, obviously, but it’s made me reflect on things. I’m almost having to prove myself.

“It’s given me that bit between my teeth and I’m really excited about the challenge.”

McGrath was a team-mate of Gillespie’s when he was Yorkshire’s overseas player in 2006 and 2007.

The former Australia fast bowler spent last week at Headingley, meeting his players, coaches and the club’s office staff.

McGrath said: “It was good to catch up with him. It was like he’d never been away after an hour or two.

“The lads who hadn’t met him seemed to be more and more impressed with each meeting, so we’re looking forward to getting started.

“He just said that he wants us to enjoy our cricket and play with that Australian mentality, which he’s been part and parcel of for so long.

“He’s said he’s going to work us hard, especially on our fielding. He’s going to make sure we’re energetic in that area.”

One thing that shone through when Gillespie met the media last week was how keen he is on preparation and how eager he is to create a culture of fun within the squad.

“Because he’s played in that Australian structure, he’s grown up that way,” said McGrath.

“Somebody like Darren Lehmann was like that. Dizzy’s like that old pro who likes to work hard but play hard too.”

McGrath showed he is a capable footballer by scoring a hat-trick in a charity match in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care and Bradford-based Brain Tumour Research against Fields FC on Sunday.

His legends/celebrity side – including Yorkshire colleagues Ryan Sidebottom, Rich Pyrah and Oliver Hannon-Dalby, who was also on target – won 7-4.