Derbyshire have signed Warwickshire seamer, Ryan Sidebottom, on a one-month loan deal.
Sidebottom, 32, will come straight into the squad for the LV= County Championship opener against Middlesex at Lord’s, after featuring in his parent club’s pre-season friendlies against Nottinghamshire and Somerset.
Born in Victoria, Australia, but qualified as a domestic player, Sidebottom joined Warwickshire in 2017 and played in two matches as the side claimed the LV= County Championship Division One title in 2021.
From 23 appearances, Sidebottom has claimed 59 first-class wickets at an average of 30.67 and best figures of 6-35, which came against Northamptonshire in 2018.
With young quick, Ben Aitchison, currently sidelined through a spinal bone injury, Head of Cricket, Mickey Arthur, was keen to add to Derbyshire’s fast bowling ranks ahead of the new campaign, with Sri Lanka great, Suranga Lakmal, also set to come into the side against Middlesex.
Arthur said: “Ryan is an experienced bowler and someone who can keep things tight for us to build the kind of pressure we want to see from our seamers.
“He comes from a side which won the County Championship last season and, coupled with the arrival of Suranga Lakmal, will give our seam bowling attack a real boost early in the season.
“With the injury to Ben, we needed to add another fast bowler and Warwickshire have been fantastic to work with on this deal.”
Sidebottom added: “I’ve been really keen to play more first-class matches and show what I can do, so this spell gives me the perfect opportunity to do that.
“There’s a good crop of players here, and it’s one of the best coaching setups in the country, so I’m looking forward to learning a lot and hopefully getting off to a strong start with the ball.”
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