England Cricket / Editor / 09 May 2008 / 1

Ryan Sidebottom, England's big success story of the winter tour to New Zealand, will be one of the key figures when the two sides meet again at Lord's next week. Betfair grabbed him for a chat after he began his summer with a five wicket haul for Notts against Kent.

Ryan, it looks like you're still on top form?

I think we've had four or five weeks rest since we got back from the tour and I feel really ready to go again. It was funny because on Wednesday night I took three for 14 at one point and yet I didn't bowl well at all! It wasn't rubbish, but I set myself quite high standards and was disappointed that I didn't get the ball in the right areas as much as I wanted to. Sometimes that happens. You can bowl superbly and not get a wicket at all and at other times be ordinary and get people out. I suppose you can't bowl well all the time and I got it to swing and got it in the right place on some occasions which was quite pleasing. To be honest it has just been nice to be back bowling. I got back at Yorkshire last week and got 40 odd overs under my belt and that felt good - although I felt pretty stiff afterwards.

Does the confidence from doing so well in New Zealand stay with you or is it like starting again?

No, it stays. It went okay for me, and I was quite pleased. In fact it was probably quite surreal in lots of ways. You always go into games thinking: 'Am I going to take wickets?' and wondering how a tour is going to go, so with what did happen it was obviously really pleasing, and I feel in good form now. I suppose I'm a bowler that needs to bowl to get into a rhythm. This week been the start, and hopefully I can get a few more wickets for Notts and help the team's cause and my own at the same time.

A Test hat-trick is pretty rare. Did you keep the ball?

Yes, of course. I went six years without playing Test or one day cricket so I've kept every little piece of memorabilia I possibly could. I suppose it will be something to tell my children when I'm older. Very definitely I made sure I hunt on to the hat-trick ball, and I think the ECB are getting it mounted for me so it's one thing I'll treasure for ever, especially with my parents being out there and able to see it.

You mention that you made your debut back in 2001 and then never got picked again for years. Has that made what's happening now even more special?

I think so. A number of people have said it and I think they're right. I'm 30 now and I've worked very hard and for a long time for my chance. I've realised there's no secret formula apart from giving it 100 per cent every day. You never know how things will go, so you just keep trying your hardest and enjoy every minute.

Fast bowling is always thought of as a young man's job though, or can you get better as you get older?

I think as you get older you develop more stamina to bowl for longer spells. In my case I think when I moved to Nottinghamshire it started to make a difference. All of a sudden I was bowling 500 overs a season. Three years of doing that probably helped me. It meant I was stronger and fitter, but also learning how to bowl through the experience. I had some great years at Yorkshire but probably didn't get as much opportunity there. Experience just helps you learning how to swing the ball and be more consistent

What difference will it make to have Freddie Flintoff fit again when the New Zealand series starts? The suggestion is he'll be picked as one of four bowlers.

Obviously we don't know that, but we've heard the talk and I think that's firing everybody up. If you look at the first couple of County games I think all the England lads have put in good performances. You want to have competition for places. You'd be unwise to take anything for granted and I certainly won't. There's a lot of younger guys wanting to play, so you've got to keep taking wickets to make sure you are in the frame to be selected. I mean I had a great end to the series in New Zealand but I know I definitely can't afford to take anything for granted now. People have seen me bowl as well and that makes them all the more keen to knock you down a peg or two. I want to keep playing as long as possible so I need to make sure I stay fit and stay bowling well. There's a lot of guys out there ready if you don't.

Okay, so we'll say if selected, how do you see England's prospects for the Test series?

I think we showed during the winter that we've got a very good young side. There's a lot of talent, and we need to be a bit more consistent now. If we play like we can we will go in as favourites, but we saw in the winter that New Zealand are also a very young side and are very competitive and we can't take them lightly. The series there went to and fro, and between one session and another it changed very quickly. We've got to try to keep our levels up through three sessions every day.

It does seem as if an air of confidence was starting to grow within the team during the winter. Is that correct?

I think so. To be fair the spirit in the dressing room has been fantastic. When I came back into the squad this time everybody made me feel welcome. I think all the guys get on with each other, we all criticise each other if we're not doing the right things which I think is a healthy thing, but we also help each other

So is that different from when you had your first game against Pakistan all those years ago?

I don't think so, but I think maybe I'm different. When I first played you had the likes of Mike Atherton and Alec Stewart, Graham Thorpe. I think I was a bit overawed by it all, to be honest, and that didn't allow me to play my own game. I was concentrating on other things, maybe, instead of just going out there and bowling. Now I think I've been around a few years and I'm more confident and focused on doing my own job. As a team everybody clubs together and we work really hard. You'd have to be there to see how the guys train. There's a real determination to win every match this summer.

Thanks for your time - we've a free £50 bet for your favourite charity.

Great, the cash can go to Cancer Research. I lost both my Auntie and my wife's Grandma because of it and any drop in the ocean to help find a cure must help. I'm a Manchester United fan so I'll put the money on them to win the Champions League. That will be compulsive viewing in a couple of weeks time.

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1. Nurin | 23 May 2008

   As you are a Manchester United fan, who is your favourite player in Manchester United?

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