Sidebottom supports seamers

Ryan Sidebottom is expecting competition for a spot in the Test side against New Zealand

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England seamer Ryan Sidebottom expects Matthew Hoggard and Steve Harmison to be back and firing soon.

The Ashes-winning new-ball pair were dropped during the recent Test series in New Zealand, but Sidebottom knows they will be fighting hard to get back in the side.

“They are both fantastic bowlers,” Sidebottom said. “But you do have days when you don’t bowl well.

“I am sure they will be working hard on their games and they are always going to be around the team because they are both great bowlers.

“Sometimes batters can just smack you around and you’ve no answer to it, that’s the way it goes.

“They’ve not become bad bowlers overnight. They are both great bowlers and will be pushing hard to play the first Test at Lord’s.”

Sidebottom was England’s man of the series in New Zealand, taking 24 wickets to help secure a 2-1 triumph.

His place in the side looks secure, but he remains modest about his achievements after being plucked out of county cricket by new coach Peter Moores only last summer.

Sidebottom was capped once under Fletcher and then overlooked for six years and, as a result, the 30-year-old left-armer has learnt to take nothing for granted.

He expects Hoggard, Harmison and Andrew Flintoff to be among a number of players pushing him for a spot.

“I don’t see it as my place,” said Sidebottom, speaking at the opening of the npower ‘Urban Cricket’ facility at Sheffield’s Abbeyfield Park. “There are a lot of good bowlers and those are three great bowlers that have done well for England.

Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard will be fighting hard for a place © Getty Images

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“They won the Ashes for England and they’ll be looking to do well. They’re back playing now and I’m sure looking to take wickets and they’ll be knocking on the door come selection day.

“I need to be ready and taking wickets. I’m not taking it for granted that I am going to play.”

Sidebottom has taken 53 wickets in the 12 Tests since he was recalled to the side, a ringing endorsement for county cricket.

He believes his move from Yorkshire to Nottinghamshire during his years in the wilderness gave his career a boost but he admits it was a source of disappointment that it took him so long to regain international recognition.

Sidebottom said: “I was disappointed when I was bowling well for Notts that nobody came down to watch.

“I can bowl a bit quicker and maybe I surprise myself. The move to Notts to bowl regularly and get the body in shape to bowl over after over is one that has probably helped my career.”

Since the New Zealand tour, Sidebottom has got married and taken a well-earned rest, which included sitting out Notts’ season opener at Kent last week.

Yet as a successful England cricketer, he has still found himself much in demand and he is determined to hit the ground running when he does return to action.

“It’s not something I’m complaining about, playing for England, but I bowled 140-odd overs in three Tests,” he said.

“So to have two or three weeks to recover, get away and get some rest, I can start back over now.

“I’m going to play a few games for Notts and then hopefully come the first Test I’ll be on the teamsheet.

“It’s been weird having lots of interviews – but I’ve just kept myself fit, kept the body ticking over.

“I’ve had a few nets to keep ticking over, I don’t like to stop. Once you’re bowling you like to keep going.”

England face New Zealand in the first npower Test of the summer at Lord’s on May 15.