Ryan Sidebottom: "It's All About Consistency" - His T20 Blast 2025 Verdict
Former England left-armer and T20 World Cup winner Ryan Sidebottom knows exactly what it takes to succeed in the shortest format - and he's watching this year's Vitality Blast with a keen eye.
Speaking exclusively to BoyleSports , the ex-Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire seamer has offered his take on what defines success in a packed T20 calendar, who could go all the way, and why left-arm seamers remain such a vital weapon in modern cricket. T20 Blast betting remains a popular topic around the tournament, and Sidebottom’s insights offer a deeper understanding of the teams and players involved.
Looking at the broader domestic picture, Sidebottom also believes the Blast still holds untapped global potential - and says a move towards franchising could be the key to elevating its status on the world stage.
Surrey Are Sidebottom's Favourites
"I think for me it's consistency. You look at the teams throughout. There are a lot of fantastic teams with strength in depth, and a lot of youngsters have arrived on the scene over the last two or three years, holding their hands up and performing brilliantly.
"I think whoever plays the situation. It boils down to the consistency of the bowling lineups and also, I think, who plays the best cricket at the right times.
"Because there's so much cricket in the T20, like the IPL, you might get a team that loses three or four in a row, but all of a sudden, something clicks, and they win five or six and momentum goes with them, and they end up making the quarter-finals and playing well in semi-finals.
"But if I'm looking at the all-round package, I would have to say probably Surrey have the strength in depth. They have a lot of go-to players and they can change within what the wicket perceives or the conditions perceive.
"So you look at Surrey or maybe a Somerset, but Gloucester last year were absolutely outstanding, weren't they? They were wonderful, and it was fitting, especially with the illness of Syd Lawrence, who is arguably one of the Gloucester greats.
"So to do it for him on the big stage, it was great for a team that you wouldn't sort of pick. But for me, I would go Surrey, and then Lancashire always, are a very strong team, and sometimes, with things happening in the background, the politics, and a new coach in terms of Crofty, we'll have to wait and see.
"I'm going to go Surrey all the way for the T20 Blast. But it's always exciting. It's great to watch. And I think the team that plays the best cricket, obviously, throughout the tournament will go on and win."
Any Surprise Packages?
"I'm probably going to go for a Gloucester or Birmingham Bears up against Surrey. I'm just going to have to point out Surrey because they're such a strong team. But don't underestimate Gloucester.
"Maybe a Sussex. They're growing in stature. They've had a young team. They've had, again, a lot of things going on at the club, but now they've got that consistency. The players have matured a lot more, and they're growing in stature, and they're learning the game.
"So maybe a Sussex as well. But I will go Gloucester and Birmingham for me as the potential 'surprise' packages."
Sidebottom's Former County Sides - Yorkshire and Notts: Big Names, Big Expectations
"Yorkshire have to play better. They win brilliantly one game, and then the next game, they fall away and don't play so well, and that's kind of been the same thing that's happened since I was playing.
"You know, we perform fantastically for two or three games, then we fall away and don't quite perform as we should.
"You always look at Yorkshire's team and think, 'Why has Yorkshire only been in the finals there, what, twice and made the final once?' And you think for such a big club with strength in depth that they should go on and be regulars on finals day, but they kind of fall away. And that's the consistency. Again, a very young team, been together for a number of years now, two or three years. You'd like to think they'd perform better throughout the team this year.
"But don't write off Yorkshire. Nottinghamshire, they're always a wonderful team, with a strong, strong batting lineup. Tom Moores and Joe Clarke help make up a wonderful batting team. Can they now bowl as a unit better? If they do, they will go all the way and make the finals there. But again, it's that consistency in performances."
The Blast Has Global Potential - But Needs a Franchise Future
"I think the Blast is huge. I really believe it could be bigger and better. You've still got a lot of young players that are travelling the world and playing franchise cricket all over the world.
"So if you look at the IPLs and the Big Bashes and the CPLs, the Pakistan Premier League, a lot of our English players are getting picked up because the Blast is so strong.
"We have a lot of young talented cricketers, and we have strength in depth. For the T20 Blast, I would like it to be a franchise at some stage.
"Yes, the Hundred, okay, the Hundred is here to stay. People are talking. They've spent lots of money.
"But for me, if you're going to have the T20 Blast on the global stage, they have to franchise it, and I think that will happen at some stage because all the other teams around the world are picking up our young talent and playing them in their league.
"The T20 Blast is brilliant. And I loved playing. I love being involved. You've got big crowds, Friday nights. It's an absolutely fantastic format!"
Would Sidebottom Make the Cut Today?
"Evolution and things change; skill sets change. But I think I would have really enjoyed playing.
"I always bowled at the death for Yorkshire, and I bowled at the start. Left-armers now, if you look around the world, most teams really want them because of their variety, the variation, and the angle of attack they can provide; it's become very sought after.
"I wouldn't say I would have done amazingly well, but I would like to think I might have got picked up in one or two franchises playing around the world, especially being a left-arm and being a swing bowler.
"You have left-arm spinners in pretty much every team, and you have a left-arm seamer or a lot of teams try to have a left-arm seamer because you want the variation and variety within your attack. It's another go-to avenue if teams are struggling at the back end; you can bring a left-armer on with the change of angles."
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