Tim’s setback hands Sidey Test chance
SEAMER Ryan Sidebottom has been handed the chance to resurrect his Test career after being called up for Friday’s second contest with Bangladesh at Old Trafford.
The 32-year-old left-armer has been drafted in as a replacement for all-rounder Tim Bresnan, who picked up a stress fracture in his left foot in the eight-wicket win at Lord’s on Monday.
Sidebottom, who played the last of his 22 Tests for England against South Africa in January, gets his chance after impressing in England’s recent World Twenty20 triumph, where he finished joint leading wicket-taker with Graeme Swann, with 10.
Bangladesh have never played a Test match at Old Trafford, but Nottinghamshire seamer Sidebottom has a good record in his two matches at the Lancashire home, taking three wickets against West Indies in 2007 and then four against New Zealand a year later. National Selector Geoff Miller said: “It’s very unfortunate that Tim Bresnan will miss the second Test through injury as his bowling benefitted from five days of Test cricket during the Lord’s Test and he would have been looking forward to getting more overs under his belt at Old Trafford.
“It does, however, provide Ryan Sidebottom with an opportunity to push for Test selection following his outstanding performances in the World Twenty20.
“The entire bowling unit will be better for the overs bowled during the first Test and looking to further build on this in Manchester.”
Sidebottom’s inclusion stokes the debate over the balance of the England pace attack on Friday with selectors questioned for picking only four bowlers in the first Test.
SQUAD: A Strauss (capt), J Anderson, I Bell, A Cook, S Finn, E Morgan, K Pietersen, M Prior, A Shahzad, R Sidebottom, G Swann, J Trott.