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County Championship: Yorkshire on the brink of first title since 2001

Ryan Sidebottom of Yorkshire celebrates taking the wicket of Riki Wessels of Notts during the third day of the LV County Championship match
Image: Ryan Sidebottom of Yorkshire celebrates taking the wicket of Riki Wessels on Thursday

Yorkshire begin the final day of their Division One match at Nottinghamshire this morning just five wickets away from winning their first County Championship title in 13 years.

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The hosts limped to 149-5 at Trent Bridge after following on and they are still 180 runs away from making Yorkshire bat again.

Should Yorkshire take the five wickets they need, they will seal their 32nd title, and of the current team, only Ryan Sidebottom was there for the 31st.

If and when they are victorious, Sidebottom and his Yorkshire team-mates will celebrate long and hard - at a ground where he was once a firm favourite with the home support in his time 'down south'.

"I had seven wonderful years here," said the former England left-armer, who twice won the same title with Nottinghamshire.

"It's a fantastic club and it was a great set of lads winning trophies under (coach) Mick Newell. I was sad to leave at that stage of my career.

"But I suppose to come back (here) and win a championship would be even more special."

Whisky and lemonade

Whether or not the deal is sealed on Friday, even in a self-confessed "twilight" of his career, former England seamer Sidebottom is still hoping he is far from done yet.

"I've got at least six years left in me!" he said, with a smile.

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Jack Brooks helped Yorkshire take a major step towards claiming the County Championship title

"The way things are, I get looked after by 'Dizzy' (coach Jason Gillespie) and 'Frog' (director of cricket Martyn Moxon) ... probably since I've gone past 30, I'm bowling as well as I ever have done.

"(I hope I've got) two or three more years ... if I'm bowling well and contributing I'll carry on playing."

Should he chalk up another title here, Sidebottom will go 4-0 up on his one-time professional footballer - and Yorkshire and England bowler – father Arnie.

Sidebottom senior is likely to be in attendance but, according to his son, will be keeping a low profile.

"Dad might be around. But he'll be hiding somewhere, drinking a whisky and lemonade," he said.

"It is something special to follow in dad's footsteps ... and to have him here will be great.

"I can keep telling him things I've done, and gone past him."

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