Sidebottom delights in display

16 May 2008

Ryan Sidebottom was once again the pick of the attack for England © Getty Images

England spearhead Ryan Sidebottom held a monopoly on the second-day wickets at Lord’s and then admitted he had robbed his team-mates.

Sidebottom, crowned England’s player of the year earlier this week, claimed 4-5 after a poor opening to the first npower Test against New Zealand.

The New Zealanders were eventually bundled out for 277 while England replied by reaching 68 without loss on a day limited to 55.4 overs by stoppages for bad light.

Sidebottom, 30, looked more like the version whom had claimed 53 wickets in a dozen Tests over the past year than the wicketless left-armer who was out-bowled by Stuart Broad and James Anderson on day one.

“The lads were taking the mickey out of me, saying I had burgled a few wickets today, after all their hard work yesterday, which I agree with, I suppose,” Sidebottom said.

“I was bitterly disappointed with my performance yesterday. I wanted to back up Broady and Jimmy, who bowled fantastically well and set the platform.

“Maybe we feel New Zealand got 50 too many in hindsight and that is the way it goes sometimes.”

Sidebottom has set himself high standards following his stellar 12 months back in international cricket and considers himself to the leader of the attack.

“Why shouldn’t I? Any bowler should think like that,” he said. “You’re playing Test cricket and you have to put pressure on yourself.

“I always see it is a responsibility because I have been around a bit more than the other two. It’s an added responsibility and one I would like to take on.”

It took 43 minutes to separate Kiwi overnight pair Daniel Vettori and Jacob Oram, the latter lured into an edge to slip after being forced onto the back foot by the short stuff.

Bad light stopped play on numerous occasions on a stop-start day two of the first npower Test at Lord's

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“No batsmen like it, it gets them off the way they play and the way they move their feet,” said Sidebottom, who claimed 24 wickets in three Tests against New Zealand in March.

“It was a plan to be a bit more aggressive today and bowl a few more bouncers.”

There is little doubt that Sidebottom is England’s best bowler but giant left-hander Oram feels he is just about the best around in international cricket.

“He is the best I have faced at the moment,” Oram said. “I would be keen not to face him again. If you are able to swing it, and swing it with accuracy, you’re going to be difficult to play.

“The thing that strikes me the most is he’s so accurate with it and he swings it late.

“He seems to be right back to where he was in New Zealand, which is unfortunate for us.”

The Test did not move on as swiftly as anticipated, however, due to five stoppages for bad light, which led to regular boos from a frustrated crowd.

The fact England opted for the dressing room when their scoring rate was moving up through the gears only increased the disappointment.

But Sidebottom said: “They came off quite a bit so why shouldn’t we? If you lost a wicket at that late stage in the evening you would be disappointed, so you are better off staying off.”

Oram added: “It wasn’t frustrating at the end. They had got away from us a bit at the end and the momentum was with them.

“I thought it was quite dark and we had trouble picking the ball up in the field.”