England Cricket / Editor / 23 May 2007 /

Nottinghamshire's director of cricket, Mick Newell, has backed surprise inclusion Ryan Sidebottom to perform for England if he starts against West Indies on Friday in the second Test at his former Headingley home.

The 29-year-old wins his first call-up to a 13-man squad since his inclusion against Pakistan at Lord's six years ago in which he failed to take a single wicket.

The left-arm seamer's call-up has raised a few eyebrows but Newell is confident Sidebottom will do a job for England, who are the predictable 1.96 favourites in Betfair's second Test match odds market to beat the tourists after the first game ended in a low-key draw.

West Indies are available at 10 to win, while the draw is trading at 2.54.
"He's an improved bowler from the last time he played," said Newell.

"I'm sure he knows his own game better, he's much more in control and he's got a bit more variety to his bowling."
Sidebottom has fared well for Notts since his 2004 switch from Yorkshire and has been called up to replace the injured Matthew Hoggard, who was only able to bowl 10 overs in the first innings.

"I think he's the best left-arm bowler in this country by a long way and therefore he should have been somebody we should have been looking at all the time if you want that variety in your attack," added Newell.

Monty Panesar, who claimed 6-129 in the first Test, is the 1.8 favourite to end the Series as the top England wicket-taker, while the erratic Steve Harmison, who managed just a single wicket at Lord's, is next best at 4.1.

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