Sidebottom has key role

Ryan Sidebottom has impressed on his return to international cricket

Ryan Sidebottom is hoping to get another chance to further press his claims for a lasting role as an England bowler.

Before rain wiped out the third day’s play of the second npower Test against West Indies at Headingley Carnegie on Sunday, Sidebottom had match figures of 6-54 - proving the wisdom of bringing him in from the cold.

The left-arm seamer had spent six years trying to catch the selectors’ eyes since his previous Test appearance and he has performed consistently for Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire in the mean time.

His swing bowling impressed as the Windies were bowled out for 146 and then reduced to 22 for two following on - still 402 runs short of making England bat again.

England coach Peter Moores was unsurprisingly impressed, and no less vindicated for the part he played in elevating the 29-year-old from outside the nominated pool of 25 players from whom England were expected to pick this summer.

“It is really special for Ryan to do it on a ground where he learnt his cricket,” said Moores.

“It is quite a fillip for county cricket as well that he has put us in this position.”

A 10-wicket match haul would not be a major shock now for Sidebottom, as long as a poor weather forecast allows enough play at some stage over the final two days.

Sidebottom’s opportunity arose after his fellow Yorkshireman Matthew Hoggard suffered a thigh strain in last week’s first Test at Lord’s, while all-rounder Andrew Flintoff remains on the sidelines with his troublesome left ankle.

“He offered us good control,” Moores added. “He’s been good for two or three years, and the opportunity came because we had an injury.

“He’s done very well so far. There is a bit of the game to go but let’s give him the credit for showing the ability to move up a level.

“It was a bonus it was at a ground he knew. But he was picked because he has a very good record over a decent length of time.”

Meanwhile Flintoff bowled in the indoor nets at Old Trafford on Sunday and was set to do the same again on Monday, while Hoggard is being prescribed a similar programme on the other side of the Pennines.