Yorkshire want Sidebottom in surprise return

The club have made an official approach for the 32-year-old left-armer, who played for the county between 1997 and 2003.

It comes just four weeks after Yorkshire's chief executive Stewart Regan insisted the club were not interested in bringing Sidebottom back to Headingley Carnegie.

"We haven't looked at him and have no intention of going down that route," declared Regan last month.

But Yorkshire, who last night booked their place in the Clydesdale Bank 40 League semi-finals with a four-wicket win against Northamptonshire, have had a re-think.

With Tim Bresnan and Ajmal Shahzad potentially in line for a central contract, the club are concerned their pace bowling resources could be left threadbare.

They plan to meet Sidebottom, who captured 163 wickets in 54 first-class games for the county at 25.12, to see whether they can agree terms. Sidebottom announced he was leaving Nottinghamshire last week because they would only offer the security of a two-year deal.

Yorkshire – 18m in debt – would have to offer a three-year contract and a six-figure salary to capture the Huddersfield-born seamer, who was yesterday named in England's squads for the forthcoming Twenty20 internationals and one-day internationals against Pakistan.

They face stiff competition from the likes of Lancashire, Hampshire, Surrey and Sussex, but Sidebottom could be swayed by the chance to return home.

Martyn Moxon, Yorkshire's director of professional cricket, last night confirmed the club's interest in signing the player, who has taken 79 wickets in 22 Tests but is likely to lose out in the next round of central contracts.

"We have made an official approach to sign Ryan," said Moxon. "He has vast experience, he's bowled with good pace this season and he offers a different angle of attack.

"There is a danger we might lose one or two of our lads to central contracts, so it's important we don't leave ourselves short in the pace bowling department. But if we were to sign Ryan, and there are a lot of other counties chasing his signature, it would probably be instead of an overseas player."

Yorkshire will play their home CB40 League semi-final at Scarborough following their 10th victory in 11 group games at Wantage Road.

The club will today announce North Marine Road as the venue for the last-four clash on September 11, with Headingley Carnegie unavailable due to the one-day international taking place between England and Pakistan the following day.

There was talk of Yorkshire having to play a home semi-final at a neutral venue amid fears Scarborough would not be able to accommodate television cameras.

But Sky have agreed to broadcast the other semi-final live and to screen updates and highlights of Yorkshire's match via the red button, meaning Yorkshire do not forfeit home advantage.

Last night's victory guaranteed Yorkshire first place in Group B before their final group game against Essex at Headingley on Saturday, plus a home knockout tie. But they were run reasonably close by a Northamptonshire team who had nothing to play for but pride.

After opting to bat after winning the toss, Northamptonshire scored 204-8 – a total that looked at least 30 runs short.

Opener Rob Newton got them off to a flying start with a rapid 35, but Yorkshire wrested back the initiative with some good bowling and fielding, Adil Rashid the pick of the attack with 1-26 from eight overs.

Rob White top-scored with 61 from 68 balls before being caught on the cover boundary off Richard Pyrah.

On the ground where he contrived to concede 12 runs from the final ball of last month's Twenty20 game, allowing Northamptonshire to escape with a dramatic tie, Pyrah produced a gutsy display.

Yorkshire slipped to 10-2 inside six overs as Andrew Gale was held at deep mid-wicket and Adam Lyth caught behind.

But Jacques Rudolph and Anthony McGrath stabilised the reply with a partnership of 90 in 18 overs, ended when Rudolph was strangled down the leg-side for 54 from 74 deliveries.

McGrath anchored the innings with 70 before being bowled by Andrew Hall. Gerard Brophy and Bairstow contributed breezy 20s, Shahzad sealing the win with a leg-side six off Lee Daggett as Yorkshire prevailed with nine balls to spare.