RYAN Sidebottom has warned his Yorkshire team-mates to watch their backs this summer as he believes the rest of Division One will be gunning for the county champions.

The white rose side head into the new season among the favourites to win back-to-back titles, even though they have been hit significantly by England call-ups.

Sidebottom, however, knows only too well that dire things can happen to champion teams if they take their eye off the ball.

In 2001 and 2002, he was part of the Yorkshire team that won the Championship and got relegated the following year.

In 2004 and 2005, the same thing happened when he was with Nottinghamshire.

And, in 2011 and 2012, Sidebottom watched Roses rivals Lancashire do exactly the same thing.

“It was brilliant last year, but it’s gone. We start again,” said the 37-year-old.

“Everybody will be chomping at the bit to beat us. On two occasions I’ve been relegated having won the Championship the year before, so it just goes to show how tough it is.

“I think from past experiences, you can take the games a little bit easy thinking ‘we won it last year, we’re a strong team, we’ll win games again’.

“You end up not sticking to the basics and the simple things that you’ve done well.

"With Jason Gillespie, Andrew Gale and Martyn Moxon, I’m sure that won’t be a problem.

“I don’t want to be relegated again. I want to be up there vying for the title.”

Yorkshire, meanwhile, beat Middlesex by six wickets in a Twenty20 friendly in Abu Dhabi today, with Adam Lyth starring with 54 not out chasing 130.

Lyth had earlier taken two wickets with his off-spin as Middlesex were restricted to 129-7. Adil Rashid also struck twice as Yorkshire won with 3.1 overs remaining.

The Vikings step up their preparations tomorrow by taking part in the four-team Emirates T20 competition in Dubai. They face Lancashire in the semi-final at 6am UK time.

All Emirates Airline T20 matches will be streamed live at sportarabia.co.uk/emiratest20-2015-live-coverage/