Ryan Sidebottom in full flight. [Photo credit: Jon Hall]
In the midst of the disaster of the second Test at Headingley, there is the interesting story of Ryan Sidebottom. And his story is not interesting only because of his name and all the fun headline writers could have with it. (How does one get a name like Sidebottom anyway? Is it the English equivalent of 'backside'?). Before Sidebottom starred in England's big win with eight wickets in the match, he was famous or infamous for the fact that like his father before him, he had only played in a single Test match.
Arnold Sidebottom, made his solitary Test appearance against Australia in 1985 and returned the paltry figures of 1 wicket for 65 runs. He was never to play for England again. His son Ryan, seemed to have suffered a similar fate when he played one Test in 2001 and went wicketless. He too seemed to have been banished to the annals of history before Matthew Hoggard's injury led to his surprise inclusion in this Test match. His steady bowling has been perfect for the English conditions and should serve as a guide for the other fast bowlers on both sides as they have struggled mightily with their line and length. He doesn't have the pace of a Steve Harmison or Daren Powell, but he bowls his deliveries on a good line and pitches them up as much as possible to take advantage of any swing. The Windies batsmen, with their lack of proper footwork, have been sitting ducks for Sidebottom.
If Sidebottom keeps up his good performances then headline writers all across the world will surely have some fun with his name.
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Tue, 29/05/2007 - 12:35pm
What was the disaster at Headingley?
Tue, 29/05/2007 - 1:33pm
I'm a West Indian, so the disaster (for me) was the West Indies' performance.
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