County cricket: Sidebottom steers Yorkshire to title

Sidebottom took 6-30 in the second innings as Yorkshire beat Nottinghamshire by an innings and 152 runs.

It was a comprehensive victory, underlined by the dominance of Sidebottom, who bowled like a man possessed, taking 4-6 from 7.2 overs on the final morning.

Yorkshire have won the title with a game to spare and did so in front of healthy following from the White Rose who were shouting ‘campeone, campeone’ from the terraces for much of the hour or so’s play.

England batsman Joe Root was leading Yorkshire in the absence of club captain Andrew Gale, banned by the England and Wales Cricket Board for this match and the last one of the summer in two weeks’ time after his on-field spat with Lancashire’s Ashwell Prince at Old Trafford.

Root, 23, has had many highlights for his country already - but this achievement is still one he will never forget.

“This is obviously very special ... to get this opportunity is very memorable,” he said.

“I didn’t expect to captain the side.

“But unfortunately it came about, in bad circumstances, and it’s credit to Galey that the way he has captained the side made it very easy for me this week.

“For a big club like us not to have won anything for such a long period of time is obviously very frustrating.

“I think the lads deserved it - they have played exceptionally well all year in all departments.

“The guys put in some great performances with bat and ball - which meant they captained themselves - and I only had to do tinkerings here and there.”

Read The Yorkshire Post on Saturday for Chris Waters’s full match report and analysis as well as further reaction from Yorkshire players and officials.