No sooner had stumps been drawn on the final Championship match of the season against Durham last summer than Craig White broke the news that he was standing down as Yorkshire captain after three years in the hot seat.

White's decision was the catalyst which sparked off the chain of events leading to a winter of upheaval before calm was restored in the early spring.

And now the 37-year-old former England all-rounder is in a very relaxed mood as he looks forward to a new season which he has every confidence will be a successful one under Darren Gough's leadership.

The longest serving player on Yorkshire's books, White's contract was due to terminate at the end of the summer but a year-long extension is in the offing for the Scarborough-based player.

With counties restricted to one overseas player from next year, White's experience at the highest level will be needed more than ever.

The former skipper is genuinely delighted that it is Gough who has taken over the reins and the new captain revealed only recently that White had urged him to accept the role as long ago as last September.

"There is a great feeling around the place and I think it is fantastic that Goughie has decided top come back as captain," said White.

"I wish the Dazzler good luck and hope that things go well for him. I have no regrets at standing down as captain because I am convinced it was at exactly the right time.

"I had spent three years in the role and I think I did OK because we gained promotion under my leadership and then managed to stay up last season."

Referring to all the recent changes, White said: "Just before last Christmas, the club was a bit of a shambles with everyone laughing at us, but a month is a long time in Yorkshire cricket and the twin appointments of Darren as captain and Martyn Moxon as director of professional cricket are absolutely brilliant.

"From my own point of view, I want to maintain high standards this season and I think it will be easier for me now that I do not have the captaincy on my mind.

"Also, I am not now expected to bowl and this will enable me to concentrate completely on my batting."

With Joe Sayers and Matthew Wood failing to click as an opening combination in the first part of last season, White promoted himself from the middle order to opener and went on to hit three centuries, finishing up with 859 Championship runs and a respectable average of 39.04.

"I would love to continue as opener because I feel very comfortable in that spot, but it is for other people to decide," said White.

There is every chance that he will get his way because in the pre-season friendly against Derbyshire at Headingley he looked supremely at ease while striking a polished 92 off 177 balls with 13 fours, before retiring to give someone else a knock.

White, in his 18th season, is close to joining the elite band of Yorkshire batsmen who have notched up 10,000 first class runs. He currently stands on 9,930.

Anthony McGrath spelled it out in the clearest of terms yesterday that his troubled winter has had no adverse affect on his batting form.

On the first day of the two-day friendly against Derbyshire at Headingley Carnegie, McGrath put all his best shots on display while calmly striking an unbeaten 86 from 92 balls, with 17 fours and a six, before retiring.

McGrath added an untroubled 157 for the third wicket with White and Yorkshire closed on 392 for four off their 96 overs.