Dad’s record has been beaten, now Sidebottom sets 700 target

Sidebottom junior claimed seven wickets in Yorkshire’s 10-wicket win against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, leaving him with 597 from 185 matches at 25.05.

Former Yorkshire and England pace bowler Arnie Sidebottom claimed 596 wickets from 228 games at 24.42.

But his son is not satisfied with family bragging rights – he wants another century of wickets after reaching 600.

“It was a privilege to go past dad,” reflected Ryan.

“He had such a fantastic career himself, and to follow in his footsteps was something I always wanted to do.

“I’ve still got a few years in me yet, so I’d like to go way past him if I can.

“Seven-hundred would be nice; I don’t know if that would be achievable, but it would be a nice goal to aim for.”

At 35, Sidebottom is clearly no spring chicken.

However, people were saying that when he rejoined Yorkshire in 2010, since when there has been no let-up in his form and fitness.

“I think my fitness is credit to the backroom staff, the physio and the strength and conditioning coach, and the way the coaches have looked after me in general,” he said.

“They’ve given me time off when I’ve needed it, and I haven’t played much 40-over cricket this year, so all that has helped to keep me fresh.

“I don’t know how long I can keep playing for; I don’t think dad retired until he was about 37/38, so I’d like to go on to that sort of age.

“At the moment, I’m feeling great, I’m feeling fit and enjoying my cricket, so I’d like to keep playing for as long as possible.”

No pace bowler can keep pounding in at 35-plus unless the enjoyment factor is still there.

As the godfather of the Yorkshire side, Sidebottom is relishing the responsibility that comes with age.

“I think with the amount of youngsters we’ve got there’s a great team spirit, and I really look forward to coming in every morning,” he said.

“Obviously I’ve been around a bit longer than some of the other guys, and they come up to me for a bit of advice, which I really like.

“Maybe when I finish playing I’d like to do some kind of bowling coaching role if possible.

“I really enjoy helping other bowlers, so it’s a possible route I could look to explore.”

Although Sidebottom is the most successful bowler in the Yorkshire ranks, having taken 131 international wickets, he insists he is very much part of a true team effort.

For it is not just Sidebottom’s wickets that have helped propel Yorkshire to the top of the Championship, but those of fellow pacemen Steve Patterson, Jack Brooks and Liam Plunkett, along with the leggies and googlies of Adil Rashid. “As a bowling unit this year we’ve been outstanding,” said Sidebottom.

“The other pace bowlers have been brilliant, while Rash has come on when we’ve needed him and bowled really well for us.

“But you don’t win a Championship with just five or six players; it’s been a genuine team effort from the batters and the bowlers.

“We’ve just tried to keep it really, really basic and take each session as it comes, enjoying each other’s successes and playing with a smile.”

As a three-times Championship winner (once with Yorkshire, twice with Nottinghamshire), Sidebottom knows a thing or two about finishing first.

He acknowledges Yorkshire are in a magnificent position, but says they must take nothing for granted.

“With four games to go we’re in a good position, but let’s not get carried away as a team,” he said.

“Anybody can beat anybody in this division, as Derbyshire showed by beating Middlesex, so we’ve just to keep plugging away.

“So far, there’s always someone who’s come in and scored a hundred, or taken five wickets, and we need that to continue. We’ve got to keep it going until the end of the season,” Sidebottom added.

Yorkshire’s run-in continues against Durham at Scarborough, starting on Wednesday, followed by games against Sussex at Hove (September 11-14), Middlesex at Headingley (September 17-20) and Surrey at the Oval (September 24-27).

For Sidebottom, the first goal is simply to get a good result at North Marine Road. “I’m really looking forward to that game; I think you’ve got to look forward to every big game, and it would be a massive boost if we could get another win,” he said.

“There will be a full-house at Scarborough and Durham are a pretty local team as well so there should be a cracking atmosphere there.

“We’ve done brilliantly well since getting absolutely battered by Sussex in our first match of 
the season, which was a massive eye-opener for us in terms of what we needed to do and where we needed to be as a team, and now we’ve just got to hold our nerve.

“They’re all massive games between now and the end of the season and I think it’s going to go down to the wire.”

[email protected]