Cricket:Ryan Sidebottom has been named in the England squad for the second npower Test against Bangladesh at Old Trafford, as a replacement for the injured Tim Bresnan.
Sidebottom, a key bowler in England’s World Twenty20-winning campaign in the Caribbean last month, has not played Test cricket since the final match of four against South Africa at The Wanderers in January.
The 32-year-old had to leave England’s subsequent tour of Bangladesh because of injury, but now gets his shot at a return against those same opponents thanks to his fellow Yorkshireman Bresnan’s misfortune.
Bresnan suffered a stress fracture of his left foot during England’s first-Test win over the Bangladeshis, completed at Lord’s yesterday. His absence, and Sidebottom’s inclusion, is the only change to the 12-man squad chosen for the first instalment of the two-match series.
National selector Geoff Miller, said: “We can be very pleased with a number of aspects from the first npower Test at Lord’s, resulting in a comprehensive win against Bangladesh.
“It’s very unfortunate that Tim Bresnan will miss the second Test through injury, because his bowling benefited from five days of Test cricket at Lord’s — and he would have been looking forward to getting more overs under his belt at Old Trafford.
“It does, however, provide Ryan Sidebottom with an opportunity to push for Test selection following his outstanding performances in the World Twenty20.
“The entire bowling unit will be better for the overs bowled during the first Test and looking to further build on this in Manchester.”
Bresnan will undergo further assessment this week before a recovery time frame is established.