Cricket Diary: Decision time for McGrath

By Richard Gibson

One conclusion drawn from Anthony McGrath’s absence from Yorkshire’s Champions League squad is that his future lies away from the club.

Although the 37-year-old did not make a single appearance as the Tykes finished runners-up in the Friends Life t20, it remained a surprise that they did not seek his experience in the middle-order with David Miller, Jonny Bairstow and Tim Bresnan all missing games due to other commitments.

However, executive chairman Colin Graves insists a role remains at Headingley for McGrath, who is now officially out of contract but nevertheless keen on a 19th season of first-class cricket in 2013.

“We have been talking to Mags over the past few months. Mags is very loyal to Yorkshire and he has been a fantastic servant,” said Graves. “It is up to him really to decide what he wants to do. I certainly don’t want him to leave Yorkshire and I have told him there is always something here for him at the club - that I will make sure we look after him one way or another.

“He has been a revelation; a key player for us. We are talking to him about what he wants to do and, at the end of the day, the decision will be his not mine.”

Yorkshire have been busy recruiting since being promoted to the top-flight of the County Championship a month ago, signing wicketkeeper Andrew Hodd on a permanent deal and adding pace bowlers Jack Brooks and Liam Plunkett to the ranks.

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Paul Collingwood is relishing one last hurrah with Perth Scorchers before concentrating his efforts on a first full season as captain of Durham in 2013.

Collingwood is with the Australian franchise in South Africa, although he has not been retained for this winter’s Big Bash League, with all-rounder Albie Morkel taking his spot as second import. Having also lost his gig with Impi following the team’s disbanding after just one season in South African domestic cricket, he is keen to make an impression.

Unsurprisingly, the 36-year-old did not need prompting for the date of the fixture against Kevin Pietersen’s Delhi Daredevils – Sunday, October 21 – and he also knew the scheduling of the semi-finals, believing that the combination of Perth’s personnel and familiar pitches could prove decisive.  

“We have got a helluva line-up and although I am an overseas player I will be happy just to get into the side,” Collingwood said. “The conditions generally at this time of year in South Africa – as we saw at the 2009 Champions Trophy – mean that the ball nips around a bit.

“There is some pace in the wickets and that would definitely suit our type of bowling – we have a very heavy, fast, seam attack and batsman who are used to pace and bounce on the Perth wicket. When you have players like we have in Marcus North, Herschelle Gibbs, Mitch Marsh, Shaun Marsh, you have to be in with a good chance.”

Collingwood, who led Durham to a club record-equalling four straight County Championship victories soon after inheriting the captaincy this past summer, has been active in formulating a list of potential new signings. A priority is an established top-order batsman to fill the void left by Michael Di Venuto’s retirement.

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Durham, Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire were among the extensive number of suitors to miss out on England Lions seamer James Harris, whose exercising of a release clause in his Glamorgan contract caused a stampede around the shires. No fewer than 12 counties were chasing the 22-year-old’s signature before he plumped for Angus Fraser’s Middlesex.

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James Foster’s initiative set up his winter Twenty20 deal with New Zealand’s Northern Knights. Former England wicketkeeper Foster fancied an overseas placement and was reviewing potential destinations when he stumbled across the news of Black Caps gloveman Peter McGlashan’s retirement.

Within minutes, Fozzie was in touch with ex-Essex team-mate Scott Styris to assess potential interest. It was strong enough for Styris, the Knights’ captain, to offer him the chance to play across all formats of the game but the 32-year-old Foster has limited his workload to the HRV Cup with his county commitments in mind.

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Date: 12/10/2012 12:50:27 by Richard Gibson
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