World Twenty20 winner Ryan Sidebottom has compared the build up to England's successful campaign in the Caribbean just over 12 months to that of the current Yorkshire side ahead of this summer's T20 competition.

"If you look at England, 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 tonight's Headingley opener against Warwickshire, last season's north division winners and last night's victors over Durham.

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

Sidebottom, however, believes that fact 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.

"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 and pass that on to the lads here.

Yorkshire have reached the last eight only twice in eight attempts.