Ryan Sidebottom backs Michael Vaughan for director of cricket role

Former England bowler Ryan Sidebottom has backed Michael Vaughan to deliver success if he is given the director of cricket role by the ECB.

The new role was created following the departure of managing director Paul Downton earlier this week, and Sidebottom believes that his former teammate is the perfect candidate to work alongside incoming ECB chairman Colin Graves.

"All three of the candidates are young, fresh, and with a vast knowledge of the game but for the fact that he has been at Yorkshire and has that relationship with Graves, for me it would be Vaughan," the Yorkshire bowler told BBC Sport.

"There needs to be a big shake up over the next 12 months because it's quite clear we've been left behind. Vaughan and Graves will bang some heads together."

Former captains Andrew Strauss and Alec Stewart have both been linked with the role in recent days.