Ryan Sidebottom believes England Test captain Alastair Cook will “come back stronger” after dismissing him for just three runs in Abu Dhabi yesterday.
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Opening the batting for MCC and playing in just his second match after being sacked as ODI captain in December, the 30-year-old was trapped lbw by Yorkshire veteran Sidebottom.
“I just got the ball to swing away and it held its line and got him lbw,” said the 37-year-old. “It was just good to get off to a good start regardless of who it was, and he’ll come back stronger.”
Sidebottom was speaking after Yorkshire gained the upper hand against the MCC on the opening day of the Champion County match.
At close of play at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Adam Lyth (54no) and Steven Patterson (12no) were at the crease with Yorkshire 82-2, trailing by 139 runs after MCC were all out for 221. James Hildreth top-scored with 89, while Will Rhodes finished with figures of 2-10.
MCC were reduced to 7-2 after Sidebottom had removed captain Nick Compton (0).
“It’s always nice to get two England players early on,” said the left-armer.“It sets the momentum and the tone for the rest of the game,” he added.
Michael Carberry (36) and Hildreth steadied the innings, the pair putting on 74 for the third wicket. Patterson then had former England international Carberry caught at second slip by Adam Lyth.
With 81 on the board, Hildreth was joined by Daryl Mitchell, the duo frustrating the Yorkshire bowlers. Tim Bresnan, however, broke the 79-run stand, trapping Hildreth (89) lbw in the 43rd over. Mitchell (54) was soon after trapped lbw by Will Rhodes.
Jack Brooks removed Sam Billings and Chris Rushworth while Graham Onions (1) was fell lbw to Rhodes. After the tea break, leg-spinner Adil Rashid wrapped up the innings with the wickets of tail-enders Adam Riley (3) and Matt Dunn (1).
In reply, Yorkshire’s Alex Lees (11) and Jack Leaning (14) were removed by Matt Dunn and Zafar Ansari respectively.