The main aim of new Yorkshire captain Anthony McGrath is to get his team off to a good start this season and then lead them straight back into the top flight of the County Championship.

The 27-year-old batsman was yesterday unveiled as the man to take over the reins from Australian Darren Lehmann and McGrath said he was sure success could be achieved.

"It is a difficult challenge but I am very much looking forward to it and I cannot wait for the season to get under way," he said.

"We have got a squad that is not much different from that which clinched the Championship in 2001 and lifted the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy last year and I am certain we can go on bringing silverware to the club.

"I am one of the youngest captains Yorkshire have had for some time and hopefully I will do well enough to stay in the job for the next few years.

"There are plenty of very experienced players around me and I know I will be able to rely on them.

"At times I will have England players in my side but leading them is not a worry to me because I know that they all love playing for Yorkshire.

"I have got a good rapport with all of the players and I don't see my relative inexperience as being a problem."

Since making his Yorkshire debut in 1995, McGrath has earned something of a reputation for being a dressing room prankster but asked if all that would have to change now he replied with a deadpan face: "I haven't the slightest idea what you are talking about."

He realised that he would now have some difficult decisions to take as captain but he insisted that he would not be changing his personality too much.

"I will remain honest and up front and I am looking forward to getting started and making a good fist of it," he added.

Asked what he felt about the release of director of coaching, Wayne Clark, McGrath said that Clark had been a popular figure with the players but they fully understood the reasons why he would not be returning and accepted the decision of the management board.

Geoff Cope, Yorkshire's director of cricket, confirmed he had spoken on Thursday night to Lehmann and he had said he was absolutely delighted that the captaincy had gone to McGrath.

"Darren only accepted the job last season on the basis that we would go on to produce a captain of our own and he sees Anthony's appointment as the way forward," said Cope.

Yorkshire also confirmed the appointment of Kevin Sharp as batting coach and said that former players Phil Sharpe, Neil Hartley and Jim Love had agreed to serve as an advisory group.

Wayne Morton will again act as Yorkshire's medical consultant but Scott McAllister will take over as first team physiotherapist from Matt Carrico who has returned to America.

Updated: 11:00 Saturday, January 25, 2003