Former captain Anthony McGrath is returning to Yorkshire to work in a new mentoring role with age group teams through to the first team.

The Bradford-born all-rounder, who retired at the end of the 2012 season, will be back at the club in a consultancy role to assist with everything from coaching to helping players facilitate the change from cricket to the workplace.

It follows 38-year-old McGrath being called in on occasions last summer to help with team preparation and signals a new policy from Yorkshire to utilise the experience of former players in guiding their future.

Headingley chief executive Mark Arthur said: “In the first six months I have been with Yorkshire, it is obvious what great respect people have for Anthony as a person and as a coach.

“We are fortunate to be able to tap in to his range of abilities, which will undoubtedly help us thrive.”

McGrath can certainly call upon vast experience in his new role, having scored 14,698 first-class runs during his career, while he also played four Tests and 14 one-day internationals for England.

But it is his experience since retirement that he will also be attempting to pass on – and particularly the transition from being a professional sportsman into normal life.

“I will be looking to get involved with a cross-section of the playing department, from offering coaching to the young players trying to make the grade to mentoring those that are getting close to retirement,” explained McGrath.

“Since my retirement a couple of years ago, I have learnt so much about life away from the game and it can be a difficult transition.

“Certainly my experiences and knowledge on how I came to terms with a new career can help those players that are starting to look at their future beyond professional cricket.

“I think using former players is one thing that can be improved throughout cricket. At Yorkshire we’ve maybe not had that over the last few years but hopefully this will be the start of it with more players in the future.”