Yorkshire Play Down Sussex Interest in McGrath

Anthony McGrath
By JMB
November 8 2006

Sussex coach Mark Robinson is searching for a new batsman and Anthony McGrath is one of the names on his list of possibles. Sussex are looking for a replacement for recently departed Chris Adams.

Robinson said "We are currently monitoring who is available and weighing up our best options. Obviously with Chris leaving we have some unexpected money left in the budget and ideally we would sign a proven player. Any batting team that is able to boast players of the calibre of Murray Goodwin, Matt Prior, Michael Yardy, Richard Montgomerie, Chris Nash and Carl Hopkinson is already guaranteed to make runs. And it will be the extra ingredient that we are looking for with a new signing."

Any move for McGrath will be resisted by Yorkshire, who want to hold him to the remaining two years of his current deal. McGrath could be seriously tempted at the prospect of joining the current County Champions and a potential sweetener in negotiations could be the vacant Sussex captaincy. McGrath was one of the favourites for the Yorkshire captaincy until Chris Adams signed for the county last week. McGrath's experience as captain of Yorkshire two seasons ago could be the 'extra ingredient' Mark Robinson is looking for.

Yorkshire have moved quickly to dismiss suggestions that McGrath is Sussex bound. When Chris Adams switched to Yorkshire from the south coast Sussex enquired about the possibility of a swap deal for McGrath. Yorkshire chief executive Stewart Regan has said "They were told categorically that he was still under contract for two years and the club had no intention of releasing him from this. Since then we have no contact with Sussex. Talks with Anthony are progressing well, and we should have something to report in the near future."