By JMB
October 19 2006

Anthony McGrath (captain in waiting and star batsmen) is said to be close to quitting the county. The Yorkshire Post claim that McGrath is disenchanted with life at Headingley and sites personality clashes within the cricket management as his main grievance. The news of McGraths possible departure will interest a number of counties who would be eager to add his runs and experience to their middle order. Lancashire are thought to be leading the chase.

McGrath would be the latest in a long line of high-profile exits from Headingley, with the club having lost such talent as Darren Gough, Ryan Sidebottom, Chris Silverwood and Steve Kirby in recent years – mainly as a result of personality clashes with cricketing management.

Already without Darren Lehmann next season the further loss of McGrath would considerably deplete an already fragile Yorkshire batting order. McGrath and Lehmann scored almost 40% of Yorkshire's runs last season. McGrath first represented Yorkshire in 1995 and who has scored 9,209 first-class runs for them at 37.74.

McGrath is one of a number of players displeased with the cricket management at Yorkshire and angry at the treatement of first team coach Richard Blakey, who would seem to have been made a scapegoat for Yorkshire's disappointing performance. Blakey has apparently contacted the Professional Cricketers Association (PCA) for advice on his treatment by the county. McGrath is tipped as the next Yorkshire captain but it would seem that he sees this as a job too close to the team management. McGrath will not take the decision to jump ship lightly as he will shortly qualify for a benefit season.

Hampshire are another county interested in McGrath and they are still pursuing Michael Lumb. The left hander is still to sign a new contract with the county and is too said to be frustrated at the management at the club.

Ultimately these departures leave the club in potential meltdown. Lehmann has left, Lumb and McGrath look odds on to follow which leaves the counties middle order engine room empty. McGrath is favourite to take on the county captaincy. Yorkshire would have to persuade (and presumably pay more for) overseas signing Younis Khan to do the job or recruit a candidate from elsewhere.

The second overseas slot seemed certain to be filled by Jason Gillespie once more which would mean that a captain would need to be drafted in from another English county. Names that have been mentioned have been Chris Adams, Dominic Cork, David Fulton and Michael Vaughan (if not selected by England). Whatever happens the new captain will have a lot on his plater if McGrath and Lumb joing Lehmann through the exit door before the 2007 season starts.