Sidebottom and Collingwood return

Ryan Sidebottom and Paul Collingwood have been recalled to the England side for the third npower Test against South Africa at Edgbaston starting tomorrow.

The duo replace Darren Pattinson and Stuart Broad from the line-up beaten by 10 wickets at Headingley Carnegie last week.

Paceman Steve Harmison misses out after being brought back into the squad for this game having being dropped during the winter series in New Zealand.

Sidebottom missed the last Test with a back problem and should find conditions favourable to swing bowling in Birmingham.

Collingwood’s recall will have to give a better balance to the side. The Durham all-rounder will bat at number six with Andrew Flintoff at seven and Tim Ambrose at eight.

Harmison was keen to re-establish himself in the England line-up, but could not force his way into the side for the pivotal game of the series, with England needing to win to keep alive their hopes.

Paul Collingwood throws punches at batting coach Andy Flower ahead of the third Test at Edgbaston

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Captain Michael Vaughan insisted the Durham paceman would be pleased to have been recalled to the England set-up despite being left out of the team.

“It’s a testament to the way Steve has bowled this year for Durham that he’s back but we’ve decided to go in with four (bowlers),” he told Sky Sports.

“We’ve gone with the balance of the side.

“It’s a good thing for him to be back in the 13 and he’ll be disappointed not to be in the 11 but he’ll also be delighted just to be back amongst the ranks.

“I’m confident this side can provide a good performance and put things back on track.”

Vaughan also confirmed that England have moved to tinker with the batting order after promoting Tim Ambrose to number six in the defeat at Headingley.

Vaughan confirmed: “Paul Collingwood will bat at six, with Freddie (Andrew Flintoff) at seven and Tim Ambrose at eight. I felt last week we just looked a little bit light (in the middle order).”

That new-look batting line-up must now do better than the first-innings 203 all out that undermined England’s efforts in Leeds.

“The key this week is to try and bat well in the first innings to let the likes of Jimmy (Anderson), Siddy (Sidebottom) and Freddie to do the job and to bring Monty (Panesar) into the game.

“We all know we didn’t do it last week and it’s up to us to change that.”