Cricket

Poms get behind Sidebottom

By Scott Heinrich
FOXSPORTS.com.au
May 23, 2007

GANGLY left-arm seamer Ryan Sidebottom was a surprise inclusion in the England squad for the second Test against West Indies starting on Friday.

Captain Michael Vaughan returns after missing the Lord's draw with a broken finger and the host also welcomes back Andrew Flintoff, but his fitness after recovering from an ankle injury will be monitored.

Vaughan is set to replace Owais Shah, twice out for single figures at Lord's, and will take over the captaincy from Andrew Strauss.

Fellow paceman James Anderson joins Ryan Sidebottom in the squad after Matthew Hoggard injured his thigh and was omitted.

Sidebottom, who failed to take a wicket in his sole Test appearance against Pakistan in 2001, has taken 13 wickets in four Championship matches for Nottinghamshire this season, with a best of 3-49 in the opening match against Leicestershire at Trent Bridge. 

Chairman of selectors David Graveney said the 29-year-old paceman would add variety to the attack.

"We are naturally disappointed to lose a bowler of Matthew Hoggard's calibre for this Test but remain optimistic that he will be available for the third Test," he said.

"The inclusion of James Anderson and Ryan Sidebottom in the squad is designed to provide us with different options within our pace bowling unit.

"With Jon Lewis and Stuart Broad unavailable through injury, we were keen to identify a bowler who could add variety to the attack.

"Ryan has been a consistent performer for Nottinghamshire over the last two seasons, is familiar with the Headingley pitch through his time with Yorkshire and deserves a further opportunity at this level.

"Michael Vaughan came through his net session today without any adverse reaction while Andrew Flintoff practiced earlier today but did not bowl as a precaution.

"We will need to reassess Andrew's fitness over the next 48 hours and our plan is for him to bowl in practice on consecutive days to see if there is any further reaction to his ankle injury."

Vaughan will play his first Test since December 2005.