Arnie Sidebottom is a front line casualty of Yorkshire's revamped coaching structure, which has been put in place by the club's new director of cricket, David Byas.

The former fast bowler has been released from his job as bowling coach, so severing a connection with his native county which goes back to when he made his second team debut in 1971.

Although upset, Sidebottom said he was not leaving Yorkshire with any bitterness.

"I realise that these things happen in sport and I don't want to be seen going out as a mud-slinging whinger," he said.

"Yorkshire have got a lot of talented players, many of whom I helped to produce, and I wish David Byas every success in trying to pull the team round again.

"I have built up my reputation through giving over 30 years' loyal service to Yorkshire. I have never given less than 100 per cent and I have always tried to be a good professional and that is how I would like to be remembered.

"I am disappointed with the way things have worked out because I feel I have been very successful in the job I have done. The second XI last season clinched their championship title and the year before they finished second, so they haven't done too badly under me.

"It is too early to say whether I will stay in cricket but whatever I do I will always be a fighter and give it my best shot."

Huddersfield-born Sidebottom is from the last generation of sportsmen who played professional cricket and football at the highest level, his soccer career reaching its pinnacle when he took the field alongside George Best for Manchester United.

Arnie's son, Ryan, left Yorkshire at the end of last season and has signed for Nottinghamshire.

Sidebottom senior, 49, played first team cricket for Yorkshire between 1973-91, scoring 4,243 runs and taking 558 first-class wickets at 24.82 runs apiece with his swing bowling. In one-day cricket he scored 1,273 runs and grabbed 258 wickets.

Byas, who officially takes up his appointment in the New Year, has been working hard on restructuring the coaching side of operations over the past few weeks in order to make it run more efficiently.

Kevin Sharp, made up to head coach last season, is now batting coach, and Academy coach Steve Oldham has been asked to take over as bowling coach but is believed to be still considering the offer. Both Sharp and Oldham recently passed their Level Four coaching exams, which put them among the most qualified group of coaches in the country.

Former York CC skipper, Ian Dews, who now captains the Academy side and is currently a YCB cricket development officer, has been invited to become Academy coach but, like Oldham, he has yet to confirm his acceptance.

In another positive move, Byas has appointed wicketkeeper-batsman Richard Blakey as second X1 captain and manager.

Blakey, 36, the veteran on Yorkshire's playing staff, has rarely been out of the first team after making his debut in 1985, since when he has scored 14,150 first- class runs and claimed 824 victims behind the stumps. He is the club's heaviest run-scorer of all time in county league matches with 5,482 runs and his aggregate of 7,285 in all one-day competitions is surpassed only by Geoff Boycott (8,481), Byas (7,691) and Martyn Moxon (7,307).

Yorkshire said at the end of the 2003 campaign that young wicketkeeper Simon Guy would be given the gloves at the start of next season, but Guy is well aware that he will have to be on his mettle to keep out Blakey.

* Rain and bad light severely disrupted the third day of the first Test in Hamilton between New Zealand and Pakistan, who closed on 227 for four in reply to the hosts' first-innings 563.

Starting the day on 118 for two, Pakistan lost Yousuf Youhana - caught off the bowling of Daryl Tuffey - before the first rain break came.

By then Yasir Hameed (80) had reached his half century, from 99 balls.