RYAN SIDEBOTTOM has warned his Yorkshire team-mates to watch their backs this summer as he believes the rest of division one will be gunning for the county champions.

Yorkshire head into the new season next month among the favourites to win back-to-back LV= County Championship titles even though they have been hit significantly by England call-ups this week.

Sidebottom, however, knows only too well that dire things can happen to champion teams if they take their eye off the ball.

In 2001 and 2002, he was part of the Yorkshire team that first of all won the Championship and then got relegated the following year.

In 2004 and 2005, the same thing happened when he was with Nottinghamshire.

And, in 2011 and 2012, Sidebottom watched on as Roses rivals Lancashire did exactly the same thing.

“It was brilliant last year, but it’s gone. We start again,” said the 37-year-old left-arm swing bowler ahead of Sunday’s County Champion match against the MCC in Abu Dhabi.

“Everybody will be chomping at the bit to beat us. On two occasions I’ve been relegated having won the Championship the year before, so it just goes to show how tough it is.

“I think from past experiences, you can take the games a little bit easy thinking ‘we won it last year, we’re a strong team, we’ll win games again’.

“You end up not sticking to the basics and the simple things that you’ve done well.

“With Jason Gillespie and Andrew Gale and Martyn Moxon, I’m sure that won’t be a problem. We need to be really ready and focused.

“I don’t want to be relegated again. I want to be right up there vying for the title again.”

Yorkshire have a tough start to the season. After travelling to New Road to face newly-promoted Worcestershire on April 12, they take on Notts at Trent Bridge a week later and host Warwickshire at Headingley on April 26.

“I believe that’s a good thing,” added Sidebottom, regarding the tough start. “It will stand us in good stead and be a good marker to see where we are at as a team. If we’re right up there, we’ll know we’re in a good place.”

Yorkshire beat Middlesex by six wickets in a Twenty20 friendly in Abu Dhabi yesterday, with Adam Lyth starring with 54 not out in pursuit of a 130 total.

Lyth, celebrating this week’s Eng - land Test call-up, had earlier taken two wickets with his off-spin as the Lord’s based side were restricted to 129-7. Adil Rashid also struck twice.

Yorkshire, indebted to a 59-run opening stand between Lyth and Andrew Hodd, knocked off the runs with 3.1 overs to spare.

The Vikings today take part in the four-team Emirates T20 competition in Dubai.

They faced Lancashire in the semi-final this morning (6am UK time) before the winner takes on either Sussex or an MCC side in the final.

All matches in the Emirates Airline T20 will be streamed live on the internet at http://www.sporta - rabia.co.uk/emiratest20-2015-live- coverage/