Anthony McGrath has this afternoon been confirmed as the new captain of Yorkshire for the 2009 season.
The batting all-rounder from Bradford has been vice-captain to Darren Gough for the past two years and was seen by many to be the natural successor.
The 33-year-old has done the job before, in 2003, but relinquished the position when his England c
ommitments meant he was unable to give himself fully to the role.
He led Yorkshire to fourth position in Division Two of the County Championship, just missing out on a promotion spot.
Yorkshire also finished second-from-bottom in Division One of the National League and were relegated.
However, McGrath has more captaincy experience now - having stepped in for Gough on five occasions this year - and will relish the opportunity to improve on his previous showings.
Despite being offered the job in 2007, he turned it down because he wanted to end his Yorkshire contract. He was persuaded to stay at Headingley following the appointments of Gough and Martyn Moxon.
McGrath admitted when he stepped down in 2003 that he would like to give the captaincy another go - and he made no secret of his desire to lead Yorkshire next season.
He will be a busy man in 2009, after it was also recently decided to award him a benefit for his 14 years of service to the club.
McGrath made his Yorks debut in 1995 and was capped in 1999.
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