IT IS pretty clear that Jack Brooks will miss playing alongside and sharing a dressing room with Ryan Sidebottom, who is retiring this week.

The new-ball pair have shared some great times for Yorkshire over the last five years, taking 439 wickets between them in the Specsavers County Championship since Brooks joined from Northamptonshire ahead of 2013. Sidebottom has claimed 194 and Brooks 245.

Sidebottom has been named in Yorkshire's 14-man squad for their final-round clash with champions Essex at Chelmsford, starting today, but is a doubt with a quadriceps injury.

He missed last week's win over Warwickshire at Headingley, a result which left Yorkshire needing a maximum of six points to avoid relegation.

Ahead of the trip south, Brooks admitted: "I said to Ryan last season that I've probably got half my wickets because of him, so I owe him a lot.

"He's been fantastic in all forms of cricket for so long and it will probably be quite emotional. We both enjoy a good cry, so I'm sure there will be a few of those at the end of it all.

"When I was making my way in the pro game and trialling nine years ago, he was still playing for England. To have such a good relationship with someone you watched a lot on TV has been interesting.

"Jason Gillespie was great for us in terms of a bowling guru but I would say Siddy's arguably been our best bowling coach for this group for so long.

"They're going to be huge boots to fill, and I'm not sure anyone will, but we'll do our best.

"There's not much he hasn't won – and he won a major trophy with England as well (World T20 in 2010). I'm very honoured and privileged to have played with him for five years."

Yorkshire director of cricket Martyn Moxon revealed earlier this month that talks are underway with Sidebottom over a role with the club beyond this summer, although it is unclear yet what that would involve.

The smart money would be on a coaching role of some sort and Brooks said: "I think Ryan's got a lot to offer in terms of a bowling coach.

"I'm not sure what his immediate plans are but I can see him being some form of consultant or short-term bowling coach.

"I'm not sure whether he would want to do a full-time, 12-month role straight away with a young family. But it wouldn't surprise me to see him as a consultant or maybe even in one of those franchise T20 roles.

"He's got a lot to offer the game. It would be a waste if he didn't do something like that."

The jam-packed nature of the Division One table is highlighted by the fact that Yorkshire could still finish second.

They are fourth on 145 points and 14 behind Surrey, who play Lancashire in third at Old Trafford. A draw there would open the door for the White Rose county.

Looking down the table, Yorkshire are 18 points clear of second-bottom Somerset and could secure their top-flight future with bonus points.

Somerset face fifth-placed Middlesex at Taunton, which strengthens Yorkshire's hand, while Hampshire in sixth travel to Edgbaston to face Warwickshire.

Yorkshire (from): Ballance (capt), Brathwaite, Bresnan, Brooks, Carver, Coad, Fisher, Hodd (wkt), Kohler-Cadmore, Leaning, Lees, Lyth, Patterson, Sidebottom.