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A week or so ago, we wondered whether Steve Harmison’s underlying lack of confidence was the result of not feeling like he’d earned his place in the England team. With six years and hundreds of first-class wickets between his first and second Test appearances, Ryan Sidebottom must feel the opposite.
Sidebottom’s got confidence that he’s doing the right thing, even when things aren’t going his way. He bowled well in Sri Lanka to no great effect, but in New Zealand he’s picked up huge armfuls of wickets every time he’s been given the ball. The difference?
“I’ve not really changed anything, just tried to put the ball in the areas as many times as possible and sometimes you get the nicks sometimes you don’t.”
New Zealand v England, third Test at Napier – day two
England 253 (Kevin Pietersen 129, Tim Southee 5-55)
New Zealand 168 (Stephen Fleming 59, Ryan Sidebottom 7-47, Stuart Broad 3-54)
England 91-2
If England win this series Sidebottom should get to keep the trophy
He needs side burns.
He DOES need side burns.
I just wish he’d bloody warned us that the nicks were on their way – I went to bed wrapt in gloom at the lunch interval and missed all the fun – it’s not the same with the arse Colville infesting the highlights
You don’t think it might also have something to do with just how shit the Kiwi batsman are?
It’s the hitless vs witless show.
Actually I feel a modification of a formerly famous TV cooking show coming on.
“Cant, Bat, Won’t Bat”
Sidebottom makes it look like an attack all over again. Broad, Anderson and Tremlett (when fit and able) should round it off nicely.
I’d however like to keep Hoggard in the scheme for a while.
So does Ryan now have an aeroplane-related nickname.