Durham hoping to sign Sidebottom

Durham are hoping that they have won the race to sign Ryan Sidebottom, who left Yorkshire at the end of this season and has been in talks with a number of clubs, including Durham.

Martyn Moxon, the coach, told the Newcastle Evening Chronicle: "Ryan would give the attack the sort of variation missing since Simon Brown left the club." But he will have to wait to see if he has done enough to secure Sidebottom's services. "While talks have gone well, we won't know until next week if we've been successful," he added.

Sidebottom played one Test against Pakistan and two one-day internationals against Zimbabwe in 2001 and is keen to revive his brief England days. Durham have already recruited Herschelle Gibbs and Gareth Breese for next season.