Sidebottom's second coming

Ryan Sidebottom’s rise to becoming England’s bowling spearhead has been a dramatic one.

Twelve months ago the idea of the Nottinghamshire left-armer establishing himself as Michael Vaughan’s most reliable seamer was a fantasy.

But Sidebottom cemented his new-found status by claiming career-best figures of 7-47 to put England on top of the decisive third Test against New Zealand in Napier.

The 30-year-old’s outstanding display came less than 24 hours after Marcus Trescothick announced he would be unavailable to play for his country again.

At first glance Trescothick and Sidebottom apparently have little in common; the Somerset opener boldly putting bowlers to the sword in his pomp while Sidebottom remains understated despite his recent heroics.

However, the pair are linked by their incarnation into the international game - or in Sidebottom’s case, his reincarnation.

Former England coach Duncan Fletcher first picked Trescothick from relative obscurity in the summer of 2000 while Sidebottom was a surprise selection in Peter Moores’ second Test squad.

Sidebottom, like his father Arnie, had seemed destined to be a ‘one-Test wonder’ following a fruitless debut against Pakistan at Lord’s in 2001.

But Sidebottom junior began his rapid rise to international stardom last summer against West Indies, the same opponents Trescothick made his Test debut against seven years earlier.

The opening batsman had captured Fletcher’s attention with a blistering 167 for Somerset against Glamorgan - then coached by the Zimbabwean - in 1999.

Trescothick's first taste of international cricket came in the triangular one-day series involving West Indies and Zimbabwe the following year when he quickly established himself as a consistent run-scorer.

Sidebottom’s debut was the only time the pair played in the same Test side, although they also featured together in two one-day internationals in Zimbabwe in October 2001 before the bowler’s exile began.

He returned to being a consistent performer in county cricket - moving from Yorkshire to Nottinghamshire in 2004 - while Trescothick made the headlines with his accomplishments for England.

Sidebottom’s return to the international scene came in response to an injury crisis among England’s fast bowlers last May, but he was nevertheless something of a left-field selection by Moores.

The medium-pacer repaid the favour on his return to Headingley - his former home ground - by taking eight wickets in the match, thus consolidating his place for the rest of the series.

Sidebottom retained his spot against India and remained a consistent performer throughout 2007 in Test and limited-overs cricket, excelling in unhelpful conditions during England’s two-legged tour of Sri Lanka.

His devastating displays in New Zealand, however, have fully repaid Moores’ decision to opt for a player who had been overlooked in favour of quicker, if less experienced, seamers.

Fletcher, however, can point to Trescothick as perhaps the defining selection of his seven-and-half-year tenure. The high point of his reign being the 2005 Ashes victory in which the batsman played an integral part.

Sidebottom will be targeting a similar triumph when Australia tour next summer.

Should he help England regain the urn, Moores’ brave decision to end the bowler’s exile will be as much of a masterstroke as Fletcher’s to call up Trescothick.