YORKSHIRE captain Anthony McGrath is confident he can sustain his batting form when the county season starts in earnest.

The 33-year-old has had a sparkling pre-season, amassing two centuries and an 88 in four innings, totalling 324 runs at an average of 81.

“I have put some hard work in, so I am really pleased that it has paid off. It is just important to make sure I keep it going and get the runs when the season starts,” said the player who will lead the side in today’s three-day friendly against Cambridge University at Fenner’s.

While the fixture is a friendly, the purists will point out that the contest against the students does have first-class status.

Technically, the county season gets under way today.

“I have probably done more nets than I normally do,” said McGrath, explaining the reason for his sparkling form.

“I just thought it would be best to try something different to make sure I did start well.

“I have been a little bit concerned with the way I have started the last two years. It has been so far, so good, but the real test will come when we get under way”

White Rose director of professional cricket, Martyn Moxon, who is awaiting news on a knee injury to Azeem Rafiq, said his final XI has not been finalised for either the Friends Provident Trophy or the County Championship, hinting there is still an opportunity for players to force their way in.

He said: “There is a lot of competition and we are in a decent position knowing that the whole squad is in form.

“It is going to be very difficult to nail it down to 11 players, and there is still a bit of finding out to do.”

Apart from Adil Rashid, who has been on tour with England and is currently involved in the MCC’s match against Durham at Lord’s, overseas bowler Rana Navedul- Hasan is the only player who has not been involved in pre-season.

Moxon is still not sure when the former Pakistan international will arrive back in England.

Yorkshire: McGrath (c), Rudolph, Sayers, Gale, Lyth, Brophy (wk), Hodgson, Wainwright, Shahzad, Hoggard, Patterson, Rafiq.