McGrath handed Yorkshire benefit

McGrath has spent his entire professional career at Yorkshire

Yorkshire have awarded long-serving vice-captain Anthony McGrath with a benefit season in 2009.

The 33-year-old former England international made his county debut in 1995 before gaining his first county cap in 1999.

McGrath has scored over 11,000 first-class runs during his county career with the White Rose.

"To play at a club like this for 15 years and get a benefit is fantastic," he told the club's website.

"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."

Many Yorkshire supporters believe that McGrath's talents have mostly been overlooked by the England selectors.

ANTHONY McGRATH FACTFILE County debut - 18 May 1995 Career-best score - 188 v Warwickshire 2007 Career-best bowling - 5-39 v Derbyshire 2004 One-Day International batting average - 16.60 County One-Day (Exc Twenty20) total runs - 5764 County One-Day (Exc Twenty20) batting average - 32.93

He played four Test matches for England in 2004, when his Test batting average was 40.20 and had a bowling average of 14.00.

"Anthony is a tremendous player and popular with the members, supporters and his fellow professionals. He has been an outstanding servant to the club," Yorkshire chief executive Stewart Regan said.