Sidebottom remains optimistic

Ryan Sidebottom celebrates dismissing tailender Jeetan Patel for five © Getty Images

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Watch Ryan Sidebottom at the end of day press conference and report on ECBtv

Ryan Sidebottom admitted England allowed New Zealand to reach a bigger total than they expected after they piled up a major first-innings score in the opening Test.

The tourists had hoped to finish off New Zealand early on the second day at Seddon Park when they resumed on 282 for six with the new ball only 10 overs old.

But instead Ross Taylor hit his maiden Test century and shared a record 148-run seventh-wicket stand with captain Daniel Vettori for New Zealand against England to help their side reach 470 and by the close the tourists had reached 87 for two in reply.

It was a disappointing display from England’s attack, although Sidebottom responded to having parents Arnie and Gillian in the crowd to claim 4-90.

“We were fired up to try and get the four wickets and an early wicket would have been key, but it wasn’t to be so we just kept plugging away and they’ve probably scored a hundred more than we expected,” admitted the Nottinghamshire left-arm seamer.

“It’s a pretty good wicket to bat on. Monty (Panesar) is renowned for spinning the ball and he probably only spun three balls in his whole spell.

“It looks a decent wicket and I thought we did well as a team, plugged away and they probably got 100 runs more than we’d have liked, but if we bat well there’s no reason why we can’t bat past them.”

Sidebottom bowls Chris Martin to wrap up New Zealand's innings © Getty Images

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Sidebottom’s display was all the more satisfying because it was done in front his father Arnie, the former Yorkshire and England seamer, who was watching him bowl live in international cricket for the first time.

“The last two or three times he’s been to watch we’ve been batting so he’s not really seen me bowl for England live,” revealed Sidebottom. “It’s nice to have a bit of encouragement in the crowd and try and take a few wickets for him.

“I suppose anyone having their father to watch is encouraging and you try and put in that extra one per cent when he’s watching and you want to do well in front of him.”

But Sidebottom senior may also reprimand his son after he failed to appeal for an lbw against Vettori, who went on to score 88, just nine overs into the day when television replays suggested it was out.

“I just had a bit of a mental block,” he admitted. “I thought it was going down and didn’t appeal and the guys behind the stumps went up and I made a half-hearted appeal - I was disappointed because when I looked on the screen afterwards it looked pretty plumb.”

New Zealand believe that claiming two wickets in the final five overs of the day to dismiss opener Alastair Cook and nightwatchman Matthew Hoggard may have given them the edge.

Centurion Taylor, who hit 18 boundaries in his five-hour innings, stressed: “I think we can win the game. If they were none or one down overnight then I think it would have been an even game but it’s good to have them two down.

“It’s starting to slow up and take a little bit of turn and I’m sure the first session tomorrow will be a big session for the game to see where it goes. If we can pick up a few early wickets and put pressure back on England you never know.”