Essex appoint McGrath as Yorkshire links stay strong

Essex have continued their strong coaching association with Yorkshire by naming Anthony McGrath as assistant head coach.

McGrath becomes No. 2 to a former Yorkshire team-mate, Chris Silverwood, who was promoted up to the head coach role after the departure from the post of another Yorkshireman, Paul Grayson, late last season.

McGrath, who has recently been fulfilling part-time coaching duties at Yorkshire, spent his entire first-class career with his home county, making 583 appearances across all three formats during a 17-year career. He also played four Tests for England.

After his retirement, he was appointed by Yorkshire as a player mentor before his coaching duties expanded with the departure of Richard Dawson, the academy head, to Gloucestershire.

Silverwood said: "I've known Anthony for a very long time, and he is a great addition to our staff. He has excellent cricket knowledge, and during his interview it was clear he had a real passion for this job.

"He is a very good coach, and will help our batsmen improve their game. He has experience of working with some of the best batsmen in the country - names such as Bairstow, Root, Ballance, Lyth - so his experience will be invaluable to our players.

"We have a strong batting line up, and I am confident Anthony will complement it perfectly."

For Yorkshire, who also lost Paul Farbrace to Sri Lanka - and then England - in recent times, it is another raid on their coaching staff to which they are now accustomed.

Farbrace's influence on Yorkshire's academy was widely praised and his relaxed style as England's assistant coach after returning to the international circuit has received widespread plaudits. Dawson, his replacement, has also had instant success at Gloucestershire, leading them to Royal London Cup success in his first season.

"We are sorry to see Anthony leave the club," Yorkshire's director of cricket Martyn Moxon said. "He was a major part of our success over the past couple of years as a coach.

"Mags has been at Headingley for nearly 20 years as a coach and a player. He has been an outstanding servant. It is a great opportunity for him and we wish him well."