Roses clashes still growing on 'Mags'

2:58pm Friday 9th May 2008

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Anthony McGrath says he is relishing Sunday's Friends Provident Trophy clash with Lancashire at Old Trafford because Roses cricket brings out the best in him.

The Bradford-born Yorkshire vice-captain has an enviable record against the Red Rose county in all forms of the game in recent times.

He even scored a brilliant unbeaten 135 in last season's Friends Provident game at Old Trafford.

And McGrath has an average of 59.5 against Lancashire over the last three years, including the Pro Arch pre-season game in Abu Dhabi in March.

"I personally love playing against Lan-cashire, and even at Old Trafford, because the games tend to be spicy," said the 32-year-old. "The crowds are always bigger in these clashes than they are anywhere else in county cricket.

"That makes it really enjoyable for us guys to play in, whether it be at Headingley or at Old Trafford."

The first competitive clash of 2008 between the arch rivals has taken on an extra importance, with the winner taking top spot in the North Division.

Lancashire currently lead the way - but a shocking defeat at home to Scotland last Monday means that the Tykes are lurking ominously just one point behind.

"I think with the way the recent results have gone, the trophy is going our way at the moment," continued McGrath.

"Durham have lost three games in a row, Lancashire lost to Scotland, and I think we now need to win three out of our last fives games to be assured of qualifying."

However, Mags' refuses to explicitly say that Yorkshire are targeting one-day cricket more so than in previous times, due to a fruitless few years in the limited-overs arena.

"Championship cricket is always the top priority," he said. "But we have let ourselves down in one-day cricket over recent years.

"We needed to improve - and, apart from the first game against Durham, I think that we have done that."

The Tykes will be without England Lions pair Adil Rashid and Matthew Hoggard for Sunday's clash.

And they are almost certain to be without England Test captain Michael Vaughan, who will be named on Sunday in the national squad for the first Test.

And with the unexpected loss of South African bowler Morne Morkel to a hamstring tear, the squad is looking slightly stretched.

But McGrath, who admitted that he "couldn't believe it" when told of Morkel's injury, is confident that his team-mates have the ability to win at Old Trafford.

Captain Darren Gough says left-arm spinner David Wainwright will play.