Anthony McGrath awarded benefit year

Anthony McGrath, the former England batsman, has been awarded a benefit season in 2009 by Yorkshire, his club since 1993. He is currently Yorkshire's vice-captain and has scored more than 10,666 runs for them at 38.09 in first-class cricket and 6310 runs at 33.56 in one-dayers.

McGrath, 32, made his first-class debut for Yorkshire in 1995, won his county cap in 1999 and was appointed captain in 2003 before relinquishing the post after his call-up to the national side threatened to reduce his county appearances.

"It is a great honour to be awarded a benefit season. To play at a club like this for fifteen-years, to be capped and now to get a benefit is fantastic," he said. " I grew up watching all of the famous capped Yorkshire players on television and I played with a lot of famous players when I started at the club, so to get a benefit now myself and follow in their footsteps is a really great feeling."

Stewart Reagan, Yorkshire's chief executive, praised McGrath's contributions to the county. "Anthony has been an outstanding servant to the club and fully deserves to be recognised with a benefit season next year," he said. "He is a tremendous player and popular with members, supporters and his fellow professionals. I wish him every success in his benefit season which I am sure will be extremely well supported."