Ryan Sidebottom's return is big boost for Yorkshire

The veteran left-arm swing bowler made an encouraging return to first-team action with two wickets in Sunday’s Clydesdale Bank 40 win over the Unicorns after nearly six and a half weeks out with a torn calf.

Not only will the 34-year-old hope to make a difference in the LV= County Championship promotion race with four matches left, he could be crucial to their chances of success at next week’s Friends Life t20 Finals Day too.

A World Twenty20 winner with England in 2010, the former Nottinghamshire man will be a direct replacement for Australian ace Mitchell Starc, who is unavailable for the trip to Cardiff.

For Yorkshire, Sidebottom’s return to the side is almost like signing a new player.

Ahead of tomorrow's key Championship clash with Division Two leaders Derbyshire at Headingley, he said: “It’s been a frustrating six weeks but the rehab’s gone well and it’s good to be back.

“It’s getting towards the business end of the season, which I’m looking forward to. Hopefully I can contribute.

“It’s vitally important to go out there and enjoy it and see what happens. I think it’s going to need three wins but we’re playing good enough cricket to do well and force those wins.

“All of our games, apart from Essex, are at home. That could be a big factor for us. We’ve got one at Scarborough against Gloucester, where we generally do pretty well.”

Derbyshire hold a 26-point advantage over second-placed Hampshire and Yorkshire in third, having won five of their 11 fixtures.

A lot of their success has been attributed to former Tyke David Wainwright, who has taken 27 wickets and scored 228 runs.

“You’ve got to give them a lot of credit,” added Sidebottom. “They’re not a team of stars but they’ve stuck to their game-plans. They’ve bowled well and put runs on the boards. They’re tough to play against.”

Yorkshire squad v Derbyshire: Gale, Lyth, Jaques, Ballance, McGrath, Rashid, Hodd, Rafiq, Pyrah, Sidebottom, Patterson, Ashraf.