World Twenty20 winner Ryan Sidebottom has compared the build up to England’s successful campaign in the Caribbean just over 12 months ago to that of the current Yorkshire side ahead of this summer’s Friends Life t20 competition.

“If you look at England in the World Twenty20, we were written off before it started,” said the left-arm swing bowler.

You cannot quite go as far as saying that Yorkshire have been written off ahead of tonight’s Headingley opener against Warwickshire, last season’s North Division winners.

But, following a poor start to the summer in the LV= County Championship and Clydesdale Bank 40 competitions, it is fair to say Sidebottom and Co find themselves as outsiders to reach their first ever finals day in August.

Sidebottom, however, believes that can work in their favour.

He continued: “Yorkshire are one of only a handful (three) of teams who have never been to finals day, so I think the lads are really up for it this year.

“There is definitely enough in the squad to mount a serious challenge.

“You have just got to go out there and play without any fear. That’s what we did with England, and I will try to pass that on to the lads here.

“In Twenty20, you can get on a run. We have got to enjoy it and take it for what it is. You can put a run of wins together and be right up there.”

Yorkshire have reached the last eight only twice in eight attempts, and have failed to get out of the group stages in each of the last three seasons.

Tonight’s encounter with the Bears is the first of 16 group matches, and as few as seven wins (two points per win) could see Yorkshire secure one of the four qualification places.

Yorkshire finished sixth in the North Division last season with six wins and a tie from 16 matches, while Northamptonshire grabbed fourth place with seven wins and three ties.

Sidebottom was an ever-present in England’s successful campaign last year, and even reached finals day with former county Nottinghamshire last August.

He has taken an impressive 58 wickets from 50 20-over fixtures in his career, including ten from seven matches in the Caribbean.

Tonight’s clash will be the first of four in eight days for Yorkshire, who also travel to face Notts at Trent Bridge on Sunday, host Worcestershire on Thursday and travel to Old Trafford for the Roses match next Friday.

Sidebottom added: “When I signed, it was something that I was really looking forward to.

“Headingley is renowned for good crowds, and I can’t wait for the Roses games in particular.

“We’ve had a tough three weeks, and I think this will do us the world of good. We fought hard against Sussex, so we go into the tournament in a positive frame of mind.”

All-rounder Rich Pyrah and off-spinner Azeem Rafiq, who has returned from a successful month on loan at Derbyshire, are hoping to be available after knee and finger injuries.